You are asking a very important question, since teens are often very focused on how they look. These days there is a lot of media attention about Americans becoming increasingly overweight. Everyday, you hear about different fad diets and famous people dieting, and it may seem like the thing to do. High school is also a popular time to experiment with different foods and diets, such as trying a vegetarian diet or a high protein diet, but remember, not every diet or reason to diet is good.
Watching what you eat and being healthy is important, but sometimes dieting can get out of control if the person keeps losing weight well past their goal and can’t seem to stop. The more extreme a diet is (especially when severely limiting the calories eaten) the more likely the abnormal eating will lead to a full blown eating disorder (such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa).
Eating disorders are diagnosed with very specific medical criteria, but you may be concerned about a friend way before that happens.
There are a few things that may suggest an eating disorder and need for medical attention. They are when a friend’s diet extremely limits food choices or calories, there is frequent meal-skipping, compulsive exercise, large weight changes, fat-phobia, a preoccupation with food or eating rituals, substitution of ice or gum chewing for eating, no appetite or energy, and lots of vomiting.
For more information about the pressures teen girls face, visit the
Facts section or read these
Girls' Journals.