Eating Disorders Awareness 06

Do you often say, "I'm too fat" or "I need to go on a diet"? How often do you make these comments in front of your child? As a parent or caregiver, you can help prevent eating disorders before they occur by being a good role model. Adopt a healthy lifestyle to keep physically fit, eat more nutritious foods, let your teen help you prepare healthy meals, and stay away from crash diets. Also, it's important to model self-esteem to your teen-if your teen hears you say things like "I'm too fat" about your own body, she may end up thinking the same way about her own body.

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, February 26-March 4, 2006, is a great time to promote positive body image and healthy eating in your teen as well as to adopt these practices for yourself. This year's theme is "Be Comfortable in your Genes” will highlight the fact that body size and shape are strongly influenced by biological factors such as genetics. Fighting your natural size and shape can lead to unhealthy dieting practices, poor body image and sometimes eating disorders.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, "5 to 10 million girls and women and 1 million boys and men are struggling with eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, or borderline conditions."¹ Dieting, personal or family history of obesity or eating disorders, substance abuse, and depression are factors that contribute to eating disorders. People with eating disorders also tend to be overly self-critical and have low self-esteem.

Of course, never make fun of your child's appearance. Encourage your teen to maintain a healthy weight rather than conform to a "beauty ideal." Remember, a number on a scale is not necessarily a good indicator of how healthy a person's weight is. The body mass index (BMI), which measures the amount of body fat and muscle a person has, is a more reliable indicator; an excess of body fat is always unhealthy, as is a lack of sufficient body fat and muscle. A doctor can help you and your teen determine whether he is a healthy weight.

The Nation's obsession with thinness can have devastating consequences for teens. It's important for parents and caregivers to be on the lookout for warning signs, which may include:

• Complaining about being fat
• Skipping meals
• Avoiding certain foods
• Showing fear of gaining weight.

Physical signs include:

• Slower breathing rate
• Stop to menstruation
• Growth of fine hair on the body
• Dry skin
• Brittle hair and nails
• Lightheadedness
• Constipation
• Joint Swelling

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week
February 26 - March 4, 2006

NEDAW, in its 19th year, will highlight the fact that body size and shape are strongly influenced by biological factors – such as genetics, while also calling attention to some of the new discoveries surrounding the role of genetics in the development of eating disorders.

Too often individuals struggle against their natural, genetically influenced size just to fit into that pair of “skinny jeans” in the back of their closets. Fighting your natural size and shape can lead to unhealthy dieting practices, poor body image and sometimes eating disorders.

While you can adopt a healthy lifestyle and aim to be fit for your particular body type, you cannot change your genes. We want everyone to start feeling comfortable in their genes by wearing comfortable jeans.

While the NEDAW 2006 key message focuses on helping individuals feel at ease with their natural size, the use of the word “genes” within the message also provides a foundation for addressing the fact that eating disorders are serious illnesses, not choices. Everyday, researchers are discovering more about the influence of genetics on eating disorders and finding that while environmental factors may pull the trigger, genetics loads the gun.  

www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

603 Stewart St., Suite 803, Seattle, WA 98101
Business Office: (206) 382-3587
Toll-free Information and Referral Helpline: (800) 931-2237  

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