By Lee Ann Turner

http://www.threemoviebuffs.com/

In each of the videos depicted, one or more of the following were present:

Lies/deceit

Revealing/tight clothing

Sexual references

References to dieting

The popular girls are beautiful, thin, and athletic

The popular guys are athletic and good looking

Bring It On

A Cinderella Story Mean Girls

She’s All That

Confessions of A Teenage Drama

Queen

What do these movies and images portray to teens?

Thin is in

Must be thin to be beautiful

Must be beautiful to be popular

“The marketing of the female body and the socio-cultural pressure to be thin often are held accountable for more and more women acquiring symptoms of depressive mood and anxiety, social withdrawal, self-invalidation, distorted body image judgments, and the development of severe eating pathologies.” ~Maryna Vaschenko, Eating Disorders In Adolescent Girls: What Educators Should Know

These images lead teens to extreme measures to become

acceptedEating disorders

Anorexia

Bulimia

Muscle dysmorphia (“reverse anorexia”)Obsessive preoccupation with body size and muscularity

Compulsive exercise

Facts

• Of the cases of Anorexia, more than 90% are female, typically ages 14-18 (Maryna Vaschenko).

• In a small number of cases, the damage caused by Anorexia may lead to death (Maryna Vaschenko).

Warning Signs of Anorexia

Unnatural or obsessive preoccupation with food, dieting, and weightDistorted body image & intense fear of gaining weightAvoidance of social situations with foodLack of energy, weakness, fatigue, and depressionDecreased coordinationInability to concentrate

Long visits to the bathroom after eatingSecretive eatingHidden stashes of food, particularly high calorie foods such as candy, chips, etc.Use of laxatives, diet pills, diuretics, emeticsBloodshot eyes (from vomiting)

Warning Signs of Bulimia

http://www.pdrhealth.com/content/nutrition_health/chapters/fgnt09.shtml

Results of Anorexia

http://www.pdrhealth.com/content/nutrition_health/chapters/fgnt09.shtml

Results of Bulimia

http://www.pdrhealth.com/content/nutrition_health/chapters/fgnt09.shtml

What Educators Should Do

• Become aware of the teens’ social and academic world (key for preventative strategies in school settings)

• Be aware of potential risks and be informed about the behaviors, signs, symptoms, health consequences, and preventative strategies