It’s a frightening world we live in when kids are mimicking a serious medical disorder just to lose a few pounds.
I have a lot of experience with eating disorders and am extremely sensitive to how life shattering they can be. Eating disorders - true, clinical eating disorders – are isolating, embarrassing, dangerous disorders that often end in death. Kids, and adults, that suffer from anorexia, bulimia or any mix in between know all too well the shame, loss of control and self loathing one feels when they engage in these self destructive behaviors to relieve anxiety. Weight loss is a symptom of the disorder, not the issue itself. Some may fool themselves into thinking their only goal is to become thin, but the urge to become thin comes from denial of the true problem: the inability to cope with your emotions.
Yet, as young girls do, they only see the end result, not the consequences. Painfully thin and troubled starlets hide behind giant sunglasses as shocked gasps and shouted concerns from onlookers show losing weight is the perfect way to get attention. While those truly afflicted with eating disorders do anything they can to hide the weight loss, as to not draw attention to themselves, those who’s goal IS weight loss, relish in the attention.
Engaging in disordered eating behaviors, no matter what the motivation, is dangerous.
Those who have clinical eating disorders can only be helped by intensive therapy and, in extreme cases, medical intervention. It is a serious issue and something that should not be taken lightly.
Mirroring eating disordered behaviors as a way to quickly lose weight, or as a crash diet, however, is the newest fad diet among young girls. Young girls are learning quickly from stars like Lindsey Lohan, who wears her emotions on her fluctuating pant size, that losing a drastic amount of weight quickly is the quickest way to get attention. Suddenly, it is cool to be seen consuming nothing but Diet Coke, and glamorous to refuse to eat. Gone are the days of wanting to be voluptuous, feminine and confident. Now, the “in” thing is to be rail thin, sickly and troubled. Women are starting to speak out about the unrealistic expectations the media puts on body image and weight, and are starting celebrate more curvy examples of beauty, like Kim Kardashian, but it isn’t reaching our young ones just yet.
Girls have been competing with other girls since the dawn of time, and have an uncanny way of appearing supportive while wanting nothing more than to tear others down in order to come out on top- a dangerous combination for young, fragile self-confidence. Competion with peers to see who can be the thinnest is a dangerous game to play with dangerous consequences.
Restrictive diets over time can cause heart arrhythmias, nutritional deficiencies, decreased bone density, loss of menstruation, thyroid damage, lack of energy, weakness and irritability.
Some kids are even engaging in these behaviors together, in person or on the huge “pro ana/mia” community online, sharing tips and techniques.
Most importantly, dappling in these behaviors increases the chance of your child developing a full blown, clinical eating disorder. The attention can be addictive, and the focus of their weight can begin to make the feel as though that is all they are worth- and will do anything to keep control over it to keep that love and attention coming.
Be on the look out for any new preoccupation with weight or food, drastic weight fluctuations, changes in mood, isolation, and more sleeping than normal. Talk to your kids about the importance of proper diet and that you child is worth more than their weight. If a child feels like they are good enough, they will not engage in self destructive behaviors.
