Anorexia is no longer a simple subject, defined specifically to an individual. Teenagers these days do not need peer-pressure to force them into an eating disorder, to make them feel "beautiful". The problem that exists is merely in their head, not having the ability to recognize what is "beautiful", not able to have reason. It is somewhat ironic that anorexia is considered an eating disorder when it really is a mental disorder that affects one person's body. How a teenaged girl can have the same measurements of a super model and not have the ability to properly compare ones self.

I have a close friend that suffers from anorexia, and it was really strange to hear the detail provided to me about what she does and how she manages her scary lifestyle. Teenagers are not uneducated, ignorant to what is happening and go around starving them selves. What was scary is how educated these "children" are. Eating saltine crackers with mustard, because it will fill them up and that mustard doesn't have any calories, so it's okay. Eating an apple for lunch because the body uses more energy to digest it, so they can lose weight and be "skinny". Even going as far as to cut them self to take their mind off of food.

This is what is going on, and this is what one of the prettiest girls I know told me she does to maintain her petite figure. There is no hiding her actions; there is no evaluation that needs to be done. This is the simple truth, the visual truth and what should be a really simple thing to notice by her parents, but goes completely unrecognized; they are oblivious to her self destruction.

Most people chose to be a vegetarian or vegan for health reasons, to avoid certain foods they feel are unnatural or unhealthy. Some young girls take that as an opportunity or an excuse, a good reason why they do not eat as much or as often as others...

Is this the case for every situation? Without a doubt, the answer is no. But is this a scenario? Of course it is. And just like every situation there will be a variance, as well as a similarity. Positive reinforcement is merely a start on a road to recovery. The majority of the time, the negativity is coming from the one that suffers and their distorted view of their self. We need to know when to help someone, most importantly the young minded in need. We cannot allow our selves to have a "distorted" view as well, and miss the signs that our youth is in trouble.

Learn more about this author, Aaron Blea.
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