Eating Disorders

  An eating disorder is a sad and common thing that teens can have.  They usually start when a teen has low-self esteem about themselves and how they look.  They feel like they won't fit in because their "To fat."  Then they create an eating disorder. There a two different kinds of eating disorders.  One is anorexia and the other is bulimia.  When a teenager has anorexia, they may take diet pills and excessive exercise.  They are petrified to gain weight, they may check themselves in the mirror countless times a day.  If not treated anorexia can cause death.   One out of a hundred girls have anorexia.  50% of all the girls with anorexia fully recover, 30% have residual symptoms through out life and 20% have chronic which leads to death of complications or suicide.  Eating disorders happen to more girls than boys, because there is more pressure on girls than there are boys. 
     The other eating disorder is bulimia.  When a teen has bulimia she will over eat at least twice a week, and then she will be upset from over eating and try to eject all the food she has.  Sometimes they will take diuretics (water pills), or enemas. Adolescents with bulimia may periodically skip meals, restrict food or engage in over exercising. In spite of this, most people with bulimia are of normal weight.  Many people who have this eating disorder will have depression and will hurt themselves by cutting and burning themselves.  If not treated in a matter of time their teeth could rot out from all of the vomiting and have swollen salivary glands, electrolyte and mineral imbalances, long lasting disruption of normal bowel function, erosion of the dental enamel, and rarely, tearing or rupturing of the esophagus or stomach or heart irregularities.  Like anorexia 50% recover fully, 30% change somewhat, and 20% still have it.  Although long term studies show that eventually the person will turn to help. 
     Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness The mortality rate associated with anorexia is 12 times higher than the death rate of ALL causes of death for females 15 – 24 years old.  Anorexia is the 3rd most common chronic illness among adolescents.  An estimate of a 1,000 women die each year from anorexia.  It is a sad thing that is very common these days.  So do yourself a favor don't worry about your weight so much that you become obsessive over it, because not only does it hurt you, but it hurts your family.  If you know anyone who has these eating disorders get help fast before it is to late.