Eating Disorders.
What is it about preteens and adolescents that puts them at such a high risk of developing
eating disorders? Eating disorders lead young people to serious medical conditions such as
anorexia, which is drastically changing food consumption with the outcome of extreme weight
loss, and bulimia, which is binge eating and forcefully vomiting in order not to gain weight.
Puberty is a natural process that occurs in young individuals, such as preteens and teenagers, that
prepares their bodies for reproduction. Whenever their physical appearance changes, it becomes
more difficult for them not to identify their own bodies in the mirror or, in that sense, not to
appreciate the beautiful changes their bodies are going through.
Poor body image is the main cause of eating disorders, but how do we develop poor body
image? For young girls aged 10–13, going through puberty and their physical appearance
changes as well as how comfortable they are in their own body. According to Daryn Eller,
“during ages 11 through 13—particularly in girls, who experience not only the growth of breasts
and pubic hair and the onset of menstruation but also the normal weight gain that accompanies
these changes.” This stage is life-changing for females because they are transitioning from
childhood to adulthood. Some young girls gain weight as a result of their bodies maturing. In
order to cope with their feelings of insecurity, some women turn to dieting as a means of gaining
control over their bodies and their lives.
There are ways to have a healthy diet, but mostly not for preteens. Since puberty, girls
gain weight because of their bodies’ maturing. They often feel “fat” among their peers who are
not going through puberty yet. According to an article, “Introduction to Dieting: Teen
Decisions,” “Because girls accumulate fat during puberty, they are more likely than boys to
develop poor body image and have weight concerns that lead to dieting. It is common for a
young girl’s self-esteem to plummet in early adolescence. Between the ages of eight and twelve,
most girls gain an average of forty pounds, which accumulates mainly on the breasts, hips,
thighs, and buttocks. Girls who develop early are more prone to dieting and developing an eating
disorder because many compare their womanly curves to their peers’ childish lines and think that
they are fat. These girls are more likely to try “crash” diets that involve drastically cutting
calories in a short period of time and often overexercise.” When females are going through
puberty, they typically compare themselves to other girls in their peer group who have varied
body shapes. Because of all of the changes in their bodies, many young women find themselves
gaining weight and attempting to seek “effective” methods to lose a few pounds. Food restriction
to losing weight is ineffective; it may be effective for a short period of time, but hunger is not the
solution. A healthy diet includes eating nutritious meals because nutrition is how normal bodies
function.
Teenagers do not pursue healthy diets because they do not drop the number on the scale
as fast as they starve or cut down on food consumption. According to Alison Bell, “Healthy
eating means consuming well-balanced, nutritious meals that add up to at least 1,500 calories a
day and include adequate vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates, and, yes, fat. Healthy eating
also requires an “everything in moderation” approach to treats—allowing yourself the occasional
ice cream or potato chip indulgence”. Calories do not have to be associated with anything
negative; calories are required by our bodies in order to thrive. Eating the proper number of
calories is essential, especially for young girls. Treating yourself from time to time will serve as
a form of self-appreciation.
Social media platforms are very accessible, despite the fact that there are age restrictions
in place. Social media networks such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat have age restrictions
of at least 13 years old. It is incredibly simple to get access just by pretending to be a few years
older. When most girls are on social medias, they see women who are “perfect” and start to
doubt themselves. According to Kathiann Kowalski “Faced with such unrealistic ideals, most
teens feel worse about their bodies after reading teen fashion magazines. For those who felt
unaccepted or unappreciated in their social environment—up to one-third of girls in one study—
the effects lasted longer,” Beauty standards that are unrealistic and artificial are the foundation of
the media industry. A common misconception among teenagers is that they, too, are expected to
appear like an air-brushed image when they encounter air-brushed pictures.
In conclusion, it is exceedingly simple to get dragged into this black hole; nevertheless, it
is extremely difficult to break free from this pattern in hopes of living a happy life.. The
unreasonable weight goals, high beauty standards, puberty, and social media pressures that
preteens and teenagers face place them at greater risk of developing eating disorders than other
age groups. For females, it is tempting to look like an Instagram picture, particularly if this
involves eating less. My own experience has shown me that I have slipped into this attitude
several times.
Reference page
Eller, Daryn. “Preteens Are at Risk of Eating Disorders.” Eating Disorders, edited by Jennifer A. Hurley,
Greenhaven Press, 2001. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,
link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010128218/OVIC?u=bron88970&sid=bookmark- OVIC&xid=7d448ce2.
Accessed 30 Mar. 2022. Originally published as “Detecting Eating Disorders,” Parents, Aug. 1998.
“Introduction to Dieting: Teen Decisions.” Dieting, edited by Auriana Ojeda, Greenhaven Press, 2003. Teen
Decisions. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,
link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010305101/OVIC?u=bron88970&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=0e62db8b. Accessed
31 Mar. 2022.
Bell, Alison. “The Risks of Disordered Eating.” Dieting, edited by Auriana Ojeda, Greenhaven Press, 2003.
Teen Decisions. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,
link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010305207/OVIC?u=bron88970&sid=bookmark- OVIC&xid=c2078ecf.
Accessed 31 Mar. 2022. Originally published as “Disordered Eating: Are You One of the Silent Majority?”
Teen Magazine, Feb. 1999.
Kowalski, Kathiann M. “Poor Body Image Leads to Anorexia.” Anorexia, edited by Karen F. Balkin,
Greenhaven Press, 2005. At Issue. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,
link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010003223/OVIC?u=bron88970&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=a8a1871b. Accessed
31 Mar. 2022. Originally published as “Body Image: How Do You See Yourself?” Current Health 2, vol. 29,
Mar. 2003, pp. 6-11.
Exploratory Essay Self- Assessment
- Locate research sources (including academic journal articles, magazine, and newspaper
articles) in the library’s databases or archives and on the Internet and evaluate them for
credibility, accuracy, timeliness, and bias.
Finding research materials for the Exploratory Essay has been the most difficult, but the library
database has proven to be the most beneficial since it has articles that are directly targeted to my
topic. A single article in the library database has a variety of relevant evidence that may be used
to support my point of view. - Compose texts that integrate your stance with appropriate sources using strategies such as
summary, critical analysis, interpretation, synthesis, and argumentation.
One of the library databases, opposing viewpoints, contained all the relevant articles for any
topic. For my exploratory essay, my topic is eating disorders, and I was able to find all the
evidence I needed on opposing viewpoints in one of the libraries databases. Articles on the
opposing viewpoints might be used to support any argument that is put out by the writer.
Convincing evidence assists in the development of a thoughtful analysis and raises the chances
of validating the initial point of view.
