Do You or Someone You Care About Have an Eating Disorder?
People who starve themselves to death; make themselves throw up every time they eat; or eat so much food that they are overweight or obese are people with different kinds of eating disorders.
Eating disorders are a very serious emotional problem for teens. One out of every 10 teens have an eating disorder. Sometimes eating disorders start during childhood, even before the girl or boy becomes a teenager.
A total of at least 35 million women and men in the United States have some kind of eating disorder. Teen boys can have an eating disorder though many more girls than boys have them. Studies have found that over half of girls ages 11 to 19 are severely undernourished. Many girls are more afraid of gaining weight than of getting cancer. In fact, many girls say they smoke because they believe smoking makes their appetite go away and keeps them thin!
Eating disorders are found in every culture, every race, and religion. It doesn’t matter if someone is poor or rich, young or old, anyone can have an eating disorder. They cause many, many health problems from kidney disease and heart problems to depression. Thousands of people die every year from some kind of eating disorder.
Remember: Millions of people very day are fighting a life and death battle. It may be you, a friend, or family member. Learn more about eating disorders and where you can get help for yourself or someone you care about.
TeenSource.org is funded in part by the Federal Office of Population Affairs, Title X grant and the California Wellness Foundation.
Additional money has been provided by the California Endowment and the American Civil Liberties Union.
