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Before You Read

Click on the Before You Read icon and complete the Note Taking worksheet as you read the lesson.

Warning Signs of an Eating Disorder. People with eating disorders

such as anorexia nervosa have an irrational fear of gaining weight.
Warning signs of anorexia include: obession with weight loss, brittle
hair and nails, dry and yellowish skin, constant cold body
temperature.

Your Body Image

MAIN IDEA The media and other influences can affect your body image.
When you look in the mirror, do you like what you see? If your answer is yes, that means that you have a positive body image. Though
many teens like the way they look, many others feel insecure about their changing bodies. During your teen years, you will go through
many physical changes at a rapid pace. You may feel unhappy with your body type and wish you were taller, shorter, thinner, shapelier,
or more muscular.
Where does body image come from? There are a variety of answers. Sometimes, teens may compare their bodies to images in the
media, such as models, athletes, or actors. However, it’s important to remember that these images aren’t always realistic. They can be
touched up to remove flaws. Peers can also influence a teen’s body image. Overweight or underweight teens may face discrimination
because of the way they look, and all teens may feel pressure from friends to look a certain way.

Accepting Yourself
The rapid pace of physical change you experience during your teen years can affect your body image. Growth spurts may cause some
teens to look thin. In other cases, hormonal changes can cause weight gain. Try to accept yourself the way you are. If you feel
dissatisfied, talk to a parent or other trusted adult about your feelings. You can’t change your basic body type, and you could hurt your
health if you try.
READING CHECK
Define What is body image?

Fad Diets
MAIN IDEA Fad diets are neither safe nor reliable ways to lose weight.
Teens who want to lose weight may be tempted to try fad diets that promise quick, easy weight loss. People on these diets may lose
weight temporarily, but they usually regain it when they go off the diet. As a result, fad diets can lead to weight cycling.
Research shows that fad diets are not effective. They often pose serious health risks. In fact, most teens should not diet at all. Teens
who want to lose weight should talk to a doctor before starting any weight-loss plan. A doctor can refer you to a registered dietitian, an
expert in nutrition, who can help you set and reach your nutrition-related goals. In rare cases, teens with a serious weight problem may
be advised to follow a low-calorie diet, but only under the supervision of a health care professional. In general, teens who want to
maintain a healthy weight should simply follow the nutrition guidelines of MyPlate and get regular physical activity.

Types of Fad Diets

Some fad diets restrict the types and amounts of food that you eat. Others rely on pills or supplements. Most fad diets fall out of favor
when people realize that they’re unhealthy and they just don’t work. Still, certain types of fad diets keep popping up every few years in a
different form. The list below shows several common types of fad diets.

Miracle foods. These plans promise you can “burn fat” by eating lots of a single food or type of food. In reality, there is no
single food that can destroy fat. Moreover, eating only certain types of food will not give your body the nutrients it needs.
Magic combinations. These plans promise that certain foods will trigger weight loss when they’re eaten together. The food
combinations may be safe to eat as part of an overall healthy diet, but there’s no evidence that combining certain foods will lead
to weight loss.
Liquid diets. These plans replace solid food with ultra-low-calorie liquid formulas. These diets can lead to dangerous side
effects if they are followed incorrectly. However, doctors may recommend them (with medical supervision) for people who are
seriously obese.
Diet pills. Some diet pills and supplements claim to suppress your appetite so that you eat less. Others claim to "block" or
"flush" fat from the body. Some types of diet pills can be addictive. In addition, they can cause serious side effects, such as
 drowsiness, anxiety, or a racing heart.
Fasting. Fasting means going without food entirely. Some religious and cultural customs require people to fast for short periods,
such as specific days of the year or specific times of the day during certain months. This kind of short-term fasting is safe for
most people. However, fasting for longer periods is not a safe way to lose weight. It deprives the body of needed nutrients and
can result in dehydration.

Recognizing Fad Diets

There are several ways to tell a fad diet from a legitimate weight-loss plan. Here are some warning signs to watch for:

Food combinations that do not follow MyPlate guidelines

Promises of ultra-fast weight loss (more than two pounds a week)
Claims that you can lose weight without physical activity
Words such as effortless, guaranteed, miraculous, breakthrough, ancient, or secret
Requirements to buy special foods or other products
Claims that "doctors don't want you to know" about this weight-loss plan

READING CHECK
Explain What are some typical characteristics of fad diets?

Eating Disorders
MAIN IDEA Eating disorders are extreme and dangerous eating behaviors that require medical attention.
As you have learned, some types of weight-loss diets are unhealthful. Yet some people eat in ways that are even more harmful to their
health. These people suffer from eating disorders. Eating disorders are classified as mental illnesses. They are often linked to
depression, low self-esteem, or troubled personal relationships. Social and cultural forces that emphasize personal appearance can
also play a role. Eating disorders often run in families, and research suggests that genetics may play a role in their development.

Anorexia Nervosa
The best-known eating disorder is probably anorexia nervosa. This disorder mainly affects girls and young women, but is not
uncommon among males. People with anorexia have an unrealistic self-concept. They may view themselves as overweight even when
they are dangerously thin.
Several mental and social factors are linked to anorexia. These include outside pressures, high expectations, a need to be accepted,
and a need to achieve. Doctors also say that biological factors, such as genetics, can play a role in the development of this disorder.
People with anorexia often develop obsessive behaviors related to food. These may include:

Avoiding food and meals

Eating only a few kinds of food in very small amounts
Weighing or counting the calories in everything they eat
Exercising excessively
Weighing themselves repeatedly

Anorexia can cause the same health problems as malnutrition or starvation. Body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure may
drop. The bones may become brittle, and the body's organs may actually shrink. Anorexia nervosa can lead to heart problems and
sudden cardiac death.

Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is similar to anorexia in some ways. People with bulimia also fear weight gain and feel dissatisfied with their bodies.
However, instead of avoiding food all the time, they regularly go on binges, eating a huge amount of food in a single sitting. During a
binge, they may feel out of control, often gulping down food too fast to taste it. After the binge, they purge to rid their bodies of the
excess food. They may force themselves to vomit or take laxatives to flush the food out of their system. Instead of purging, some
people with bulimia may fast or exercise frantically after a binge.
Unlike people with anorexia, bulimia sufferers are usually in the normal weight range for their age and height. However, this disease
can cause serious health problems. It can lead to dehydration, sore and inflamed throat, and swollen glands. It can also damage the
stomach, intestines, or kidneys. People who purge by vomiting may damage their teeth by exposing them regularly to stomach acid.
Purging can also cause chemical imbalances in the body. In severe cases, these imbalances can lead to irregular heart rhythms, heart
failure, and death.

Binge Eating Disorder

People with binge eating disorder go on eating binges in much the same way people with bulimia do. However, these binges generally
do not occur as often. During a binge, people may feel guilty and disgusted about their behavior but powerless to stop it. People with
this disorder do not purge after a binge.
Binge eating disorder is more common in males than other eating disorders. Boys and men account for more than a third of all cases.
Binge eating disorder can lead to becoming overweight or obese. As a result, it can lead to all the health problems linked to obesity,
such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
READING CHECK
Compare and Contrast How is binge eating disorder different from bulimia nervosa?

Seeking Help
Eating disorders are serious and dangerous illnesses. People with these disorders need help to overcome them. Medical help may
involve counseling, nutritional guidance, and a doctor’s care. In extreme cases, a hospital stay may be necessary.
For anorexia nervosa, the goal of treatment is to get the patient’s body weight back up to a healthy level. The patient will also receive
psychological and family therapy. Family members and friends can also play a key role in treatment. They can create a supportive
environment and help the patient learn to eat normally again.
The key to treating bulimia nervosa is to break the cycle of binging and purging. Behavioral therapy can sometimes help with this goal.
After that, psychotherapy can address the emotional problems that led to the eating disorder. Similar treatments are used for binge
eating disorder.
People with eating disorders often cannot admit that they have a problem. Family members and friends can help them to recognize the
problem and seek treatment. Some patients end up needing long-term treatment to recover from an eating disorder. Support groups
can help with this process. If you think that you or someone you know may have an eating disorder, your first step might be to talk to a
trusted adult, such as a parent, counselor, or school nurse.

Some of my friends skip breakfast to lose weight. Some say they

don’t have the time to eat it. My dad says that he read a magazine
article saying that people who eat breakfast every day are more likely
to lose weight and keep it off. Eating breakfast gives you an energy
boost. It also increases your metabolism, which means that you burn
more calories. I think it’s so cool that you can actually eat to maintain
a healthy weight or lose weight.

After You Read

Reviewing Facts and Vocabulary
1. List two factors that influence body image.

2. Define fad diets.

3. List three types of eating disorders.

Thinking Critically
4. Synthesize: How might a poor body image result in an eating disorder?

5. Evaluate: If you read an ad in a magazine promising you can lose up to 15 pounds in one month while still eating all your favorite
foods, would you think this was a fad diet or a legitimate plan? Explain why.