Self Image

Imagine you get a truck for your 16th birthday, but it is NOT your favorite color, the tires are kind of worn-down, it is NOT new, but it runs OK. This truck takes you to school, to practice, to dance and to the mall. Imagine that every time you looked at the truck you saw every scratch and every dent and the color and the old tires and you hated it!

You hated that it is not a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado HD, or a 2009 GMC Sierra. You hated it so much that you begin to punish your truck because it is causing you to hate everything else in your life. You stop changing the oil, stop washing it. You start to kick the door and let the inside just deteriorate. That stupid, ugly, piece of junk!

This is how millions of young people across America treat their bodies because of an eating disorder. Did you know that according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders 8,000,000 or more people in the United States has an eating disorder? Ninety percent of these people are women. And those eating disorders usually start in the teens but may begin as early as 8 years old!

The cause for this disease has been debated for years. Some experts attribute this disease to the way our culture portrays beauty. For example, the mass media imposes a standard of thinness in order to be attractive; they need to look like Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton. Teens feel pressure in their appearance and the demand to look tiny.

This is a very delicate issue that can radically affect your health for the worst!

If you suffer or know of anyone with this problem, please GET HELP!

Talk to someone about it. Your parents, a sibling, a close friend or a guidance counselor.

You CANNOT beat this alone, but you can beat it.

Before it BEATS you.

Here is some information related to Eating Disorders:

- http://www.eatingdisorder.com/

- Iowa eating disorder helpline - 1-800-588-6158.

- Mirasol: Recovery From Eating Disorders and Healing Chronic Illness

- National Eating Disorders Association

Some Books:

- The Echo Glass by Heather Morall

- The Best Little Girl in the World by Steven Levenkron

- Feeling For Bones by Moody Publishing

- Empty: A Story of Anorexia by Christie Pettit