Did you know that over 5 million Americans
are afflicted with some type of eating disorder? With the pressure to be
beautiful, tall and thin... your little girl just might be next.
Already, our 5-year-old equates beauty with dressing up and curling her
hair... and we don't even place an emphasis on outward appearances! Fortunately
for her, she is naturally thin, for now. But what happens a puberty when
she starts to put on those fat layers that give her a grown-up appearance?
Will she still see herself as beautiful? I ask these questions about my own
child, but I could just as easily be asking them about yours.
So, she's too thin. Will that really hurt her? Being naturally thin is very
different from an eating disorder. A person with an eating disorder continues
to diet or binge/purge to lose weight even when incredibly thin.
Eating disorders can cause such symptoms as:
Damage to vital organs such as heart and brain
Menstrual periods stop or are irregular
Skin and nails are affected
Excessive thirst
Anemia
Reduced muscle mass
Bones become brittle and prone to breaking
Psychiatric illness (may accompany the eating disorder)
Dental and digestive problems (due to frequent purging)
Other substance abuse
Increased risk of suicide
Increased risk of gallbladder disease
Increased risk of cancer
Death
If your daughter (or son, but it's much more rare) had an eating disorder,
would you know it?
Here are some of the warning signs:
Losing a significant amount of weight in a short time
Feels fat even though thin
No longer has menstrual periods
Preoccupation with food
Compulsive exercising
Frequent trips to the bathroom after meals
Binges (particularly on junk food) in secret and possibly purging
Dental and/or digestive problems (common with bulimia)
Sudden drop in school performance
There are also personality traits and environmental factors that increase
a girl's risk of developing an eating disorder.
Low self esteem
Girls who are compliant, perfectionists, athletes, good students, introverts
may be at risk of developing anorexia.
Girls who are impulsive or engage in risky behaviors (drug use, alcohol,
dangerous driving, etc.) may be at risk of developing bulimia
Having parents who are overly concerned with their weight
Participating in activities that emphasize thinness: modeling, dancing,
gymnastics, wrestling, long-distance running, cheerleading, etc.
I hope that none of you have ever suffered from an eating disorder or known
anyone who has. But the sad truth is, we probably all know someone. If you,
a family member or friend suffers from an eating disorder, I would encourage
you to seek help if you haven't already.
About the Author:
Tammy Rome has been married for 13 years to Brian. They have two children: Jennifer (9) and Andrew (6). The Romes live in Ottawa, KS where they own and operate a health food store. Tammy is an accomplished herbalist and Certified Reiki Master-Teacher.
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Did you know that over 5 million Americans
are afflicted with some type of eating disorder? With the pressure to be
beautiful, tall and thin... your little girl just might be next. 
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