Schools in the Salt Lake City, Utah, area are beginning to talk openly about epidemic obesity among students. Two junior high schools hosted programs this week encouraging students to think about what they eat and why. The programs focused on teen behaviors that contribute to obesity, as well as society's unreasonable standards for female beauty and the long-term consequences of eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.

Typical teen behaviors that were highlighted as contributing to obesity included a fondness for fast food, drinking soda, and too much time spent watching television, using computers, or talking on cell phones. Presenters at the school also tried to point out to teens that not all foods are meant to be consumed every day, and that being active is very important.

Dr. Tamara Lewis, medical director for the local community health prevention agency that provided the school presentations, commented, "We'd like to see them come to the point that the only things they are drinking consistently are water and low-fat or no-fat milk. ... We're talking about the difference between 'everyday' foods and 'occasional' foods. The Easter Bunny is a one-day event, and we don't need dessert with every meal. ... Kids need at least 60 minutes of activity every day to stay healthy, and that's not just exercising their fingers when they text-message."

(Source: www.desertnews.com)

Labels: eating disorder, obesity, epidemic, utah, salt lake

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Many people mistakenly believe that eating disorders were believed affect only Caucasian women. Little research was done on men or women of various races and ethnic backgrounds. Today, though, research results document the degree to which eating disorders and body image concerns impact men and women across racial and ethnic lines.

For example, examiner.com reports the following about bulimia among African American adults:

Research has been conducted on African Americans that showed that they are more prone to the eating disorder bulimia nervosa. Bulimia is not easily detectable at a glance because those who are bulimic are able to maintain their weight, but they do not maintain their food.

Additional studies are also finding an increasing number of men being affected by eating disorders, often in conjunction with obsessive levels of exercise.

To summarize: Regardless of a person's gender, racial background or ethnic history, eating disorders remain a very real (and very dangerous) threat.

 

Labels: body image, bulimia, epidemic

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 0 Comments