LESSON
20
BEING CONFIDENT WITH YOUR BODY IMAGE
*I will have a healthful body image and
recognize signs of eating disorders
Body image
Eating disorder
Anorexia
nervosa
Malnutrition
Bulimia
Dehydration
Obesity
Metabolism
Enabler
Relapse
Do you see someone special when you look in the mirror? Do you accept the appearance of you body? Are you proud of you body? Do you have a positive body image? Teens who fell good about themselves and have a positive body image are more likely to have healthful eating patterns
Your body image is the perception you have of your
body’s appearance. You have a positive body image when you accept the
appearance of you body. You have a negative body image when you do not accept
the appearance of your body.
Many pressures and subtle influences may affect you body
image. Television shows and magazine advertisements usually portray teens that
are very attractive. Remember, these tens have been selected because they are
models. It is very unrealistic to compare yourself to these teens. There is no
“perfect teen” in real life. Some teens are tall, some are short, some are
slender, some are muscular, and some are rounded.
Popular teen sports and activities may influence your feelings about your body. Too much emphasis is placed on weight in some sports. Wrestlers have to “make weight”. Teens who wrestle may become obsessed with being at a specific weight to compete. They may develop a negative body image if they do not maintain a specific weight. Teens, who participate in gymnastics, cheerleading, ice skating, and other activities also may be concerned about weight. Being preoccupied. With being at a low weight is a cause of negative body image and low self-esteem.
Some teens develop a distorted body image. The do not see
their body as it actually appears. Have you ever known someone that was a
healthful weight who complained about being fat?
Other teens have difficulty accepting the body changes that
accompany puberty. They feel uncomfortable and self-conscious when secondary sex
characteristics develop. Some females will slouch when their breast begin to
develop. Some tall males slouch to be the same height as their classmates.
WARNING, IF YOU:
*Compare your appearance to that of a model,
*Compare your appearance to that of a professional athlete,
*Are obsessed with being thin or muscular,
*See yourself as fat when you have a healthful weight,
*Do not accept the body changes that accompany puberty,
You may have a negative body image and need help. Remember, to be a totally awesome teen, you must have a positive body image. You must have a healthful weight management plain and feel good about your body and appearance. Trusted adults can help you develop a positive body image.
Teens who have a negative body image are at risk for developing eating disorders. And eating disorder is a food-related dysfunction in which a person changes eating habits in a way that is harmful to the mind and body. Three common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and obesity
ANOREXIA NERVOSA
Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized
by self-starvation and a weight of 15 percent or more below normal. This eating
disorder occurs in about one of 200 teenage females. Teenage males rarely
develop this eating disorder. This may be due in some part to the fact that
there is more pressure on females to be thin. Females with this disorder usually
have difficulty accepting their changing bodies at puberty. They starve
themselves as a way to deal with their emotions. They may vomit, use laxatives,
take diuretics, and exercise to excess to achieve additional weight loss. These
behaviors may damage the heart, kidneys, and other body organs. People with
anorexia nervosa may suffer from malnutrition. Malnutrition is a
condition in which the body does not get the nutrients required for good health.
There have been cases where people have starved themselves to death.
Only a professional can correctly diagnose anorexia nervosa. Treatment for physical health problems is needed. A hospital say often is necessary. The patient may need intravenous feedings of nutrients. Test are required to assess damage to body organs. A healthful body weight must be achieved. Treatment for emotional problems also is needed.
Teens with bulimia need treatment for emotional problems.
They often binge or “pig out” on food when they feel angry, lonely,
depressed, or fearful. Then they feel guilty and try to rid their bodies of the
excess Calories. Counseling helps them learn healthful ways to cope with
feelings.
Treatment for physical health also is needed. There can be serious damage to several body organs. Frequent vomiting causes stomach acids to injure the stomach lining, mouth, and throat. Stomach acids also damage the teeth and gums. Frequent use of laxatives and diuretics damage the kidneys. It can lead to dehydration. Dehydration is a condition in which the body does not have enough water. Teens with bulimia may suffer from malnutrition. They may lack the minerals needed for normal heart rhythm.
Obesity is excessive body fat. A male is considered to be obese when he has a body fat percentage of 20 or more. A female is considered to be obese when she has a body fart percentage of 30 or more. Several factors contribute to obesity.
*Genetics. There appears to be and inherited tendency toward obesity.
*Slow body metabolism. Metabolism is the rate at which food is converted to energy in the cells. The thyroid gland produces thyroxin which effects body metabolism. Too little thyroxin results in slow body metabolism. A physician can treat this condition.
*Lack of physical activity. Body metabolism is slow without physical activity. Regular exercise speeds body metabolism and helps with obesity.
*Eating to many Calories and high fat foods. Harmful eating contributes to obesity. Reducing the number of Calories and high fat foods helps with obesity.
*Harmful eating patterns in which eating becomes a way
of coping with feelings and problems. This is the major factor contributing
to obesity and the reason why obesity is considered and eating disorder.
Teens who are obese need treatment for emotional problems.
Most teens that are obese are not aware they have an eating disorder. They may
not see the relationship between harmful eating patterns and emotional health.
Treatment helps them to recognize why they eat. They may reward themselves with
food. They may “pig out” when they feel stress. They may overeat to cope
with their sexuality during puberty. Attempts at weight loss rarely work without
understanding these issues. Support groups can be very helpful.
Treatment for physical health may be needed. A physician
will give a complete physical examination. The thyroid gland will be checked. An
exercise plan and healthful weight loss diet will be designed. A physician will
recommend the amount of weight that should be lost. The physician will also
recommend how fast weight should be lost.
Excessive body fat puts strain on body organs. The bones must support more weight than they should. The heart must bear more often to supply the excess fat cells with oxygen, blood pressure increases to pump blood to body parts. Too much insulin from the pancreas is needed for the body to use the food. This can cause diabetes. Obesity has been linked to and increased risk for developing cancer.
People with eating disorders usually are in a state of
denial. They do not admit to themselves or others that they have a problem. They
usually are unaware that the root of the problem is emotional, no physical. Of
course, physical problems result.
Other people usually begin the process for getting help.
For example, you may be aware of a friend who starves him or herself or “pigs
out” and vomits. You might contact the friend’s parents or a school
counselor will talk with your friend’s parents. This begins the process for
getting help for someone who needs it.
Treatment for anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and obesity
requires medical help and counseling. The person who helps with the counseling
will ask many questions. People who have these conditions may have a
relationship with an enabler. An enabler is a person who knowingly or
unknowingly supports the harmful behavior of another person. The enabler might
be a family member of friend. The enabler might deny what is happening. The
enabler also might participate in the harmful behavior. Have you ever known
someone who encourages and obese person to “pig out” when feeling stressed/
Enablers need help changing their behavior.
Eating disorders are difficult to overcome. Many people
with eating disorders must manage this behavior the rest of their lives. They
want to avoid a relapse is the return to addictive behavior after a period of
having stopped it. They do not want to feel stressed or upset or anxious and
repeat harmful eating patterns. There are support programs for teens with eating
disorders. These programs emphasize the need for on going support and awareness.
REVIEW
WRITE
A SEPARATE SENTENCE USING EACH OF THE VOCABULARY WORDS LISTED ON FIRST PAGE
1.Give five warning signs that indicate a teen might have a negative body image.
2.Discuss the causes, symptoms, and treatment for anorexia nervosa.
3.Discuss the causes, symptoms, and treatments for bulimia.
4.List the factors that contribute to obesity.
5.List health problems caused by obesity.
6.Discuss treatment for eating disorders.
