Eating disorders affect millions of people every year. Anorexia nervosa is the third most common chronic illness among adolescents. Someone with anorexia has a fear of gaining weight and presents with an extremely thin body shape from severe starvation.
15% of women ages 17 to 24 have an eating disorder
40% of teenage females have eating disorders
More than 90% of female teenagers have tried some form of dieting to control their weight
An eating disorder often affects our teenage years because our bodies are going through significant changes during puberty. Everyone goes through puberty at different times and we all develop and grow differently. Our body shape may change as we mature and it is important to remember that it is a natural part of life. We should not compare ourselves to our friends or people we see on TV or in magazines and we should be supportive of our peers. Anorexia and other eating disorders can have life threatening effects if we do not seek help. Please watch the video below for a life lesson on anorexia.
