home


 * Anorexia **

The media should NOT promote the ideal female body to be abnormally skinny and society needs to have more awareness of what healthy is.
//** "NO BODY IS PERFECT" **// // "Anorexia is a growing problem across the world that needs to be adressed. Too many girls die every year because of this issue. Most people can agree that they have heard of anorexia, but I think they wouldn't be able to explain what it acutally is and what it does to girls. People need to be informed on this issue because too many cases of anorexia go unknown until it's too late." -Alana P //

Check out this inspiring video to see the life of a girl named Elle who suffered with anorexia. []

Girls all over the world do anything to try to imitate what they see in the media. They:
 * Exercise extremely
 * Take laxatives[[image:http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSyNO_p6i3Qvlqkw9jkGcHdCIsa5KpEfXgVkSNUs1Q2Rwn7_xvE-Q width="199" height="248" align="right"]]
 * Fast for days
 * Purge after meals

Doing things like this are dangerous becuase they make girls weak and tired.

Models define a self identity based on body shape:
 * 20% of models shown in the media are below __body weight__ and have anorexia
 * Models usually weigh 23% less than the average person
 * Marilyn Monroe was considered a size 16 in the 1950s
 * Models today are pressured to size 0-2
 * Barbie dolls depict an unrealistic anatomy and body shape

Magazines affect teens into thinking what a healthy body looks like:
 * Models' bodies are manipulated to look much thinner than they actually are using computer programs like Photoshop
 * In 2009, an ad was published by Ralph Lauren that depicted a model's waist look thinner than her face
 * In Januaary 2007, The Journal "Pediatrics" conducted a study that proved that the regular reading of magazines, (with food and __diet__ articles), contributes to the spread of anorexia
 * __Studies__ show that countries with the highest circulation of magazines are also the countries that have the highest rates of anorexia

What's happening to teens: More and more girls everywhere are being effected by anorexia. The pressure to be thin is too strong.
 * Girls under 11 are going without foodTwo- thirds of girls fourteen to fifteen years old want to __lose weight__
 * 20% of girls die from anorexia every year and if the influence from the media doesn't stop the number will grow
 * 90% of anorexics are between the ages 12-25
 * Hospital stays regarding anorexia for kids under the age of 12 has increased 119% from 1999-2006 [[image:http://anorexia2.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/anorexia32.jpg width="243" height="136" align="right"]]
 * More than 33% of girls ages 10-11 are already eager to __lose weight__ and are thinking about changing their eating habits
 * 2/3 of 12 year old, underweight girls think that they are fat
 * The __University__ of Central Florida found that girls ages 3-6 are already concerned about becoming fat

If the influence from the media does no stop, the rate of anorexia will greatly increase

Effects of Anorexia
 * Slow/irregular heartbeat
 * High/low blood pressure
 * Heart failure
 * Hair loss[[image:anorexiarebecca/scale.jpg align="right"]]
 * Tooth erosion
 * Type II __Diabetes__
 * Death

There are many things that you can do to stop the spread of anorexia:

 * Spread awareness
 * Make pamplets that help explain the effects of anorexia and encourage anorexics to get help
 * There should be a diversity of models sizes
 * Encourage anorexics to get help
 * Participate in NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association) efforts to spread awareness of anorexia
 * Create and/or sign a petition that will stop the use of pro-anorexia webistes online

Click this link to see a song by Taylor Swift called "Tied Together With A Smile" which touches upon the topic of anorexia. []

Anorexia is definitely a growing issue in this country. Hopefully this website made you realize how greatly anorexia has affected teens and young children and you will join the fight to prevent anorexia and other eating disorders from spreading any longer. Within the future, we hope that organizations like NEDA will be more abundant and helpful to treating those who suffer from eating disorders. We hope that the public will be more involved and educated in this issue. To learn more about anorexia, please visit the [|NEDA] website. There you can also learn about NEDA events and programs, National Eating Disorders Awareness Week and ways to donate and get involved.

Created by: Rebecca B. Period 1, Ceire F. Period 1, Alana P. Period 1, Bea P. Period 3