Eating Disorders

[CheezDoodle]

Eating disorders are becoming out of hand, it seems that so many girls are developing them... And though it's a mental sickness, there's so many things that contribute to it, and all of these things can be prevented!

The first thing is the modeling/entertainment industry. I'm sure a lot of you have noticed that most female models are unrealistic looking (big ****s and butt, everything else much to small) and underweight. This sends off a message to girls that says 'This is what women should look like. If you don't look like this you're fat'. Same with some actresses. And you ALWAYS see commercials for diet food, with ladies saying 'I used to be a size 6. Now I'm a size 2 and I've never felt or looked better!' when really a size 6 is a great size to be!

There's also all this health food and small serving sizes and low fat stuff... And it makes eating normal things look like you're big and fat. Schools should have nutrition classes that don't just talk about how to lose weight, but how to stay a healthy weight.

And also, I think schools should offer peer counseling, because I think that's a contributing factor too. Instead of bringing your peers down, they should teach them how to build each other up. And just like they have anti-drug commercials, they should have anti bulimia/anorexia commercials.

I know none of you know this, but I've been suffering from anorexia these past couple months. I'm doing better, and I'm seeing a counselor, but it's been really hard and I'm still having some trouble getting back to normal. Today I cried because I ate a brownie. Luckily it never got really bad, but my hair's lost it's luster and my nails got brittle, and of course I lost weight (I was already underweight so that was bad).

Anyway... what's your opinion on eating disorders?
And even though it's a very personal question, have your or someone close to you ever had one?

 

[disneydance]

They are very common in gymnast as they want to be just perfect and normally its just not possible to be just perfect. I know I really havent been very wild about my weight so lately I have eaten much less food and all and my friend have been worried I may be getting a eating disorder because I'm really just trying to lose a few pounds. I dont have any friends who have eating disorders but I'm well aware of many gymnast who have including Kristie Phillphs

 

[CheezDoodle]

They are very common in gymnast as they want to be just perfect and normally its just not possible to be just perfect. I know I really havent been very wild about my weight so lately I have eaten much less food and all and my friend have been worried I may be getting a eating disorder because I'm really just trying to lose a few pounds. I dont have any friends who have eating disorders but I'm well aware of many gymnast who have including Kristie Phillphs

Before you try to lose any weight, I encourage you to check your BMI to make sure you're not already a healthy weight or underweight. Here: http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/

And just trying to lose few pounds could lead to years of worry and obsession and mental sickness.. I was lucky.

 

[PowerMonkey]

oi, i had no idea.. sorry to hear that your going through that... and yea, it is very VERY dangerous... malnutrition leads to tissue death, meaning that specific parts of your body may just give out and die on you if its serious enough.. imo, the best way to lose pounds is to work out more while continuing to eat full healthy meals.. not eat less and less... fat is just stored energy from food... so if you just eat normally, but keep active, youll just burn the excess fat in your exercise... but youll also get the essential nutrients that your body needs to function.. and imo, being really skinny actually isnt that attractive.. AT ALL.... but being healthy is ... afterall, who likes seeing bone imprints popping out of skin .....

but really.. take care of yourself meg! youre a pretty and smart girl.. you dont need to lose weight to impress anybody.. do whatever it takes to be healthy again .. your wellness es numero uno

 

[VMK_MagicalLadee]

I could never have an eating disorder.
I love food WAY too much.

 

[Princess_Dot]

I know none of you know this, but I've been suffering from anorexia these past couple months. I'm doing better, and I'm seeing a counselor, but it's been really hard and I'm still having some trouble getting back to normal. Today I cried because I ate a brownie. Luckily it never got really bad, but my hair's lost it's luster and my nails got brittle, and of course I lost weight (I was already underweight so that was bad).

Anyway... what's your opinion on eating disorders?
And even though it's a very personal question, have your or someone close to you ever had one?

Ive been suffering for the past 3 years. I just started seeing a therapist....and its helping. I agree that it can be prevented!! I know its more common among gymnats and dancers. And being involved in theatre deffinatly contributed. I was actually at a point where I wanted to die...but then I started in another show. Theatre is honestly one of the reasons Im living. (Which is weird because thats what started my ED) I am a team player, and I wasn't going to kill myself during the rehearsal period of a show.

Peer counseling would be great. I would love to talk to girls my own age and see how they avoided/are dealing with EDs. Also more public service anouncments would be amazing....maybe during shows like So You Think You Can Dance and Americas Next Top Model Ughh eating disorders are no fun...sometimes I think girls develop them thinking they are the next quick fix diet fads....honestly they ruin your life!!

Also I want to add....you dont lose weight like you think. Its not necissarily a healthy skinny that you acheive. I am sickly skinny now...a size 0 in some stores...a size 00 in others. I still dance and I need energy for that. My last audition was so much better because I had been eating!! I feel so much better because I am getting muscle tone and eating healthy!!

 

[Boomer1]

i dont have an eating disorder but im barely normal weight, i couldnt believe i was so close to underweight on my BMI. I eat quite a bit of food, but i rarely gain much weight. i guess it helps that im a very energetic person and i do a lot of physical activity. but seriously eating disorders are a big problem in our society today. many people do not know the severity of them. some girls ( and boys ) get to the point that if they are not hospitalized they could die.
im glad you've gotten some control over your eating disorder keep it up!

 

[angelcake170]

I think your right. Models do send a message to girls saying "if your small you'll look better!" but that's not the truth. I hate being small because everyone thinks I'm anorexic. Which I'm not! They must not pay attention how much food I eat. I really can't help my weight so it bugs me how people say things. All I want to say is people, your beautiful the way you are. You don't need to change yourself just to think your "pretty". Everyone is beautiful in the own way, just be yourself.

 

[Babyjustrun]

I have gone through times where I didn't like food. I refused to eat because the idea of food made me nauseated. This wasn't exactly and eating disorder, it was kind of my phobia of being sick taken to a new level.
Anyhoo, it was bad, I wasn't eating, I constantly felt sick and my parents were really worrying about me.

I'm over that, I don't really care what I look like as far as how big I am goes. If someone has a problem with my size, I dont' care to know them.

 

[DisGirlAllie]

I am very confused at the moment.
While I agree that it can be prevented, but people have different reasons for developing eating disorders. There are many causes for eating disorders. Some people can be grieving, some because of body image, some because it seems "cool", and some because everyone else is doing it.
It also seems like you all are bashing on models and making them out to be horrible, shallow people. It also sounds like you are saying they all have an eating disorder and that is the only reason that they are even models.

I would love for one of you to tell me that what I am thinking you are saying after reading your comments is wrong. Because if they are true, then me the bullemic model is apparently a bad person.

 

[imabrat]

For all those here who have or may have an ED,
You CAN get thru this!

First off, the modeling industry is a load of ****. They have those proportions because of plastic surgery.
#2, I HATE HATE HATE the diet food commercials. 'I lost 100 pounds and 10 sizes of blahblahblah'. Oh shut up! Everyones body is different. Some have more muscle, others more fat. I lost close to 50 pounds from chemo and I lost how many pantsizes? 2. They give people false hope and that pisses me off.
Society today can kiss my ***. If you're not 5'11, 110, and a 36-24-36, you're not healthy. Well guess what, I'm gonna go waddle my 5'3, 128 big fatt butt around and gain more weight because I AM healthy. And yes, I can afford to gain more weight. I have a large frame and at this weight, I look WAY disproportionate.
I hate how schools try to offer 'healthier' choices. #1, they're not healthier, they lack fat but brinng in more sodium. #2, exactly how do you stop people from eating junk at home and outside school? #3, you wonder why there are so many EDs in school? You're basically going around telling kids they're fat.

Peer counseling sounds like a great idea. I know going thru chemo, it helped to talk with kids my age about how they felt and stuff.
I would assume that those who suffer from EDs would feel the same way?

 

[CheezDoodle]

Thank you Jake, Sonya, and everyone else. It really does help to have people my age to talk to.

And Allie, if you truly do have bulimia, I don't think you're a bad person, but a good person with a big problem. Know that you can get through your problem and that the first step to getting over it is admitting you have a problem and accepting help.