|
Last night, I was talking to a friend in Whyville. She was very upset because
a rude person in her class had called her a fat cow. My friend had decided he
was right, and that she should go on a diet.
"Don't do it," I said. "You are not fat. You
are beautiful. Don't listen to rude, insecure boys."
First things first. Sometimes people are insecure and mean.
They build themselves up by tearing other people down. Those are not cool people
-- don't pay attention to what they say about you. In the real world, your appearance
doesn't matter, your attitude does. So don't go changing a minor problem (your
appearance), into a major problem... an eating disorder.
Eating disorders come in many different forms. Sometimes you
eat too much, sometimes you eat things that aren't even food, sometimes you
try not to eat altogether. Most commonly, eating disorders show up in people
(usually girls) who think they need to be thinner, no matter how healthy and/or
skinny they already are. The two most common disorders are anorexia and bulimia.
Anorexia is an eating disorder in which a person basically
starves themselves. Anorexics eat only liquids, small salads and other tiny,
lo-cal dishes, or nothing at all. They will often work out obsessively, and
have an intense fear of getting "fat," even if they are underweight.
Anorexia is a severe and life threatening disease. According
to my research, almost 20% of people affected by anorexia die. It often strikes
people around our age -- preteens and teens -- so be on your guard and watch
for these signs in yourself and friends.
Bulimia is another common eating disorder; in this
one, the person binges and purges. This means they go ahead and eat a lot of
food, but then they use throw up or use laxatives to get that food back out.
Bulimics will often eat a lot at meals or in private, and vomit afterwords.
Many people who are affected by bulimia know that they have an eating disorder.
If you know that you or a friend has bulimia or anorexia, talk
with an adult you trust immediately. Get advice, and get your friend help. They
need it.
Eating disorders are very dangerous, so you need to talk to
a mature adult, even if it means breaking your friend's trust. For more information
on eating disorders and their symptoms, go to http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org.
February 27-March 5 was National Eating Disorder Awareness
Week. The official week may be over, but it's still important to get educated
now! Better late than never!
And remember, you are gorgeous!
Fabityfab
|
