Transcript Body Image and Disordered Eating

Body Image and
Disordered Eating
American teens in crisis
The Need for Addressing Body
Image and Disordered Eating
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60% of average weight girls and 18% of underweight
girls are trying to lose weight
Adolescent girls are avoiding calcium rich foods
because they view them as fattening
One in four London girls were found to be damaging
their IQ’s by dieting
Weight reduction efforts by teenaged girls results
more often in weight gain
Eating disorders are on the rise and are turning up in
younger girls
The School Environment
How can school policies and practices support positive
self-esteem, body image and healthy eating habits?
 Zero tolerance for discrimination/harassment
 Educational opportunities for staff
 Ongoing support group
 Parent education
 Healthy school meals programs
 Adequate time for eating
 Nutrition education in the curriculum
Body Image and Disordered Eating
Topics to be covered:
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The Media, Body Image and Eating Disorders
Tips for Becoming a Critical View of the Media
The Perfect Body Myth: A Look at Teen Body Size
Some Basic Facts About Eating Disorders
How to Help a Friend:
Information for Teachers regarding Eating Disorders
Current Problems with the Media
Media images define
beauty
 Currently…media
messages scream
“Thin is In!”
 Value placed on
body size
($$$= thin)
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Teen’s Exposure to the Media
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Adolescent girls get most of their health info from
main stream media
60% of Caucasian girls report reading at least one
fashion magazine regularly
Women’s magazines have 10.5 times more
advertisements and articles promoting weight loss
than men’s magazines
The average teen watches 3-4 hours of TV per day
TV commercials – 1 out of 3.8 sent some sort of
attractiveness message
Become a Critical Viewer
Teens do not need
to passively receive
these negative
messages - they can
take action!
When viewing messages, keep
in mind...
Media messages are constructions, not
reflections of reality
 Message has been carefully crafted with an
intent…what is this intent?
 Ads are created to buy or support a product
or service
 Viewer chooses how they receive message
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Action Steps to Take
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Talk back to your TV
Send positive communication to inspiring messages
Send negative communication to offensive messages
Tear out magazine pages - enjoy your edited
magazine!
Talk with friends and family
Boycott products from companies sending negative
messages
The Perfect Body Myth:
A Look at Teen Bodies
 Significant
change takes place in
preteen and teen years
 Knowing what to expect may lessen
some fears
 Help kids accept wider definition of
beauty
Growth During Adolescence
Most rapid growth
period other than
infancy
 Between ages 12 -18
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• 15-20% of adult height
• 50 -80% of adult
weight
• 45% of skeletal mass
Fat Accumulation During Puberty
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Fat deposition occurs
between ages 9-12
Body is getting ready
for explosive growth
Fat/growth is met with
fear and anxiety
This stored fat usually
disappears by late teens
Healthy Eating & Active Lifestyle
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The winning combination!
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Teen growth spurt is an “opportunity of a lifetime”
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Adopt healthy behaviors that will last a lifetime
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Healthy food choices and daily exercise
Some Basic Facts About Eating
Disorders
Signs
and Symptoms
Suspected Causes
Recommendations for helping someone
General Definition of
Eating Disorder
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Anorexia, Bulimia and Binge Eating Disorder
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Extreme emotions, attitudes and behaviors regarding
weight and food issues
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Serious emotional and physical problems
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Can be life-threatening
Anorexia Nervosa
Characterized by self-starvation & excessive
weight loss
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• Refusal to maintain body weight above minimal
normal value
• Intense fear of weight gain
• Amenorrhea
• Extreme concern with body weight/shape
Bulimia Nervosa
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Characterized by secretive cycle of binge eating
followed by purging
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Symptoms
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Repeated episodes of bingeing and purging
Feeling out of control during binge eating
Frequent dieting
Extreme concern with body weight and shape
Binge Eating Disorder
Compulsive overeating
 No purging, but sporadic fasts or repetitive
diets
 Feelings of shame or self-hatred after binge
 Associated with anxiety, depression,
loneliness
 Body weight varies
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Suspected Causes of
Eating Disorders
 Complex,
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multi-factorial
Behavioral
Emotional
Psychological
Interpersonal
Social
Psychological Factors
Low self-esteem
 Feelings of
inadequacy
 Feelings of lack of
control
 Depression, anxiety,
anger, loneliness
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Interpersonal Factors
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Troubled family and personal relationships
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Difficulty expressing emotions and feeling
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History of being teased or ridiculed based on
size or weight
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History of physical or sexual abuse
Social Factors
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Cultural pressures that glorify thinness
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Narrow definitions of beauty
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Cultural norms that value people based on
physical appearance
Eating Disorders Information
for Teachers
Information here adapted from
BodyWise resource for
classroom teachers
Why Should Teachers Be
Concerned?
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Disordered eating
affects learning
outcomes
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Younger children are
developing eating
disorders
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All ethnic and cultural
groups are vulnerable
Become Familiar With Signs and
Symptoms of Eating Disorders
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Physical
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Behavioral
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Emotional
Physical Signs and Symptoms
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Weight loss or
fluctuation
Abdominal pain
Feeling full or “bloated”
Feeling faint or cold
Dry hair/skin
Lanugo hair
Behavioral Signs and Symptoms
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Dieting or chaotic food intake
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Pretending to eat, throwing away food
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Excessive exercising
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Preoccupation with food
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Frequent trips to bathroom
Emotional Signs and Symptoms
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Dissatisfaction with
appearance
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Sadness, feelings of
worthlessness
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Perfectionist attitude
Teachers as Role Models
Ask:
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Do I promote fear of fat by my words/actions?
Am I dissatisfied with my body size/shape?
Am I always dieting?
Do I make comments about size/shape?
Do I have prejudices against overweight children or
adults?
Address Healthy Eating from
Many Avenues:
 Health
 Science
 Social
Studies
 Media Literacy
 Body Awareness (sex ed)
Promote a Safe School
Environment
Zero Tolerance for:
 Size and sexual
discrimination
 Harassment
 Teasing
 Name Calling
Take Action When Concerned
About a Student
Goal: Communicate to student that you
care and refer him/her to a health care
provider trained in eating disorders
BodyWise Resource:
How to Help a Student
Assist Students in
“How to Help a Friend”
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EDAP resources are
terrific
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Taking action is
encouraged
Module 4: Body Image and
Disordered Eating
Information and activities primarily focused
on prevention efforts helping to combat
negative body image and disordered eating
What’s the Truth?
T/F Quiz
 Begins module with
active student
inquiry
 Address
misconceptions from
the start
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Background Information Sheets
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The Media, Body Image and Eating Disorders (EDAP)
Tips for Becoming a Critical Viewer of the Media
(EDAP)
The Perfect Body Myth: A Look at Teen Body Size
Some Basic Facts About Eating Disorders (EDAP)
How to Help a Friend (EDAP)
Say No to Dieting (from Mirror/Mirror, Beef Council)
Activity 1: Truth in Advertising
Students critique
messages in popular
teen magazines
 Redesign an ad to
reflect more
healthful message
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Activity 2: Self-Esteem Beyond Looks
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Students learn about natural body changes
that take place in teen years
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Activity focuses on identifying admirable yet
non-physical characteristics in others and self
Activity 3: Say No! to Dieting
Students learn about
various eating
disorders
 Plan out campaign
to send message via
various media, “Say
No! to Dieting”
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(adapted from Mirror/Mirror
resource)
The Virtual Connection
Online resources on body image and eating
disorders:
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EDAP
National ED Information Center (Canada)
BodyWise
Something Fishy
Eating Disorders Awareness
and Prevention, Inc. (EDAP)
National Eating Disorders
Information Center
BodyWise
Something Fishy