by Autumn Schuman

Created on: July 31, 2010

    Eating disorders, especially in teenagers, are a serious condition. Not only can they seriously damage someone physically or emotionally, but can take away social experiences that allow a teen to develop into a healthy happy adult, as well as distracting students from the education that should be a major factor in their life. Worse even is that most parents whom are lucky enough to catch the disorder, do not know how to treat it.

    Teenagers aren’t quite known for acting regularly, making it easy to deny signs of an eating problem. There are several easy to see signs, like rapid weight loss or gain, lack of appetite, hiding of figure, and talking often about their figure (whether in a outright negative way or calmly). Contrasting these, there are many ways that teens elude being caught: chewing gum constantly or carrying mints ( to stifle appetite or cover vomit taste/smell), ‘eating at friends’ houses’, faking illness to get out of some meals, sleeping through breakfast to hide from hunger, drinking loads of diet coke ( helps with vomiting, being full, and getting tastes/scents off breath), making reasons to run or bike places, eating secretly, throwing away uneaten food, and many more.

     Eating disorders commonly lead to malnutrition, which can stop or slow bodily growth, the menstrual cycle, hair growth, and healing. Malnutrition can also cause fainting, shaking, cold skin, discoloration of skin, yellowing of the eyes, head and body aches, and abnormal blood pressure. In some cases, the disorder may also lead to dehydration. In either of these cases, it is important to see a medical professional to avoid death or permanent damage to the body.

     Socially, teens with eating disorders tend to fall into two categories: loner or Social Butterfly. The former tending to feel unfit for other people’s friendship or time, bothered by their own appearance or lack of the ability to control themselves, or even of their disorder. They may desire social interaction, but feel unworthy to seek it out. The later, the Social Butterfly, on the other hand, may feel the same about themselves, but seek approval from others. They feel that they are pulling a fast one and passing for good. Their lives tend to be much like an act to make sure that they do not only look skinny, but that everyone thinks they are. The Butterflies are easily pressured, and do what they must

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