Sad statistics surround today's teens on many levels and eating disorders are among the numbers, rising at an alarming rate.

Influenced by the media, social acceptance and family issues, young men and women fall victim to eating disorders each day and although resources for recovery are readily available, teens shy at the thought of healthy healing, requiring them to step out of secrecy and seek help.

In a ten-question survey conducted by the Foothill Sun-Gazette, four hundred students from Exeter Union High School and Woodlake Union High School were polled about their eating habits, weight loss or gain and media influences.

“My mom makes at least two vegetables for our lunch and dinner and she stays on top of me with that. After homework, I go for a walk or jog,” said Exeter Union High School freshman, Megan Stoner. “I don't like my legs or stomach. I would like to lose pounds around those places.”

Like Stoner, 72.25% of Exeter students and 24% of Woodlake students said they make healthy eating choices however, 33.50% of Exeter students and 17.25% of Woodlake students are unhappy with their weight.

“I am allergic to wheat so I eat a lot of salad and meat,” said Exeter Union High School senior Sierra Edwards. “I'm not happy with my weight because I used to be in gymnastics so I was mostly muscle and I've been out for four years but I still want less fat and bigger muscles. I want to be thin but not skinny.”

“The teenage years are so complex and taking care of one's self is so important,” said Exeter's Deputy Superintendent Diane Graziani. “It is a time of great growth physically, emotionally, and intellectually so feeding the body with good foods and getting fresh air and exercise will benefit kids in all three areas.”

The three most common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating. Victims of anorexia and bulimia share similarities in their illnesses, most deriving from sexual, physical or emotional abuse. Depression is also a common factor in those suffering and although the disorders may appear to be nothing more than dangerous weight loss and gain, most victims have deeper emotional conflicts.

Anorexia Nervosa

Those suffering from anorexia often feel a need to control their surroundings and emotions as a result of reactions to a variety of external and internal conflicts such as stress, anxiety, unhappiness and feeling as though life is spiraling out of control. Those suffering with anorexia have a fear of becoming overweight and feel undeserving of life pleasures, including food.

“I skip meals at least five times a month because I think it would help with my weight. I don't think that throwing up is worth it because there's other ways to lose weight,” said Stoner. “My best friends and my mom know that I kind of bounce around with diets and my weight. They try to talk to me about the better ways to lose but I still skip meals and stop eating meat and exercise more often.”

It is not uncommon for people suffering with anorexia to also experiment with bulimia, however, both disorders seem to be popular among today's youth. Nine percent of Exeter students and 4% of Woodlake students said that they skip meals, throw up after eating or use laxatives when trying to lose weight.

“We have to be concerned about students who choose unhealthy behaviors such as making themselves vomit after eating or taking laxatives to control weight. This takes such a toll on the body and can seriously impact the person physically, emotionally, and mentally,” said Graziani. “Nine percent of the respondents said they skipped a meal, vomited or took laxatives. I hope they will seek someone to talk to, hopefully their parent, or a trusted adult on campus, in the community, or a good friend.”

Bulimia Nervosa

Those suffering from bulimia experience episodes of bingeing and purging, eating a large quantity of food in a short period of time followed by self-induced vomiting. Feeling overwhelmed by the need to cope with their emotions, most victims cause pain to themselves to avoid anger, depression, stress or anxiety.

It is important to recognize the slight differences between bulimia and anorexia. Those who are bulimic focus on the cycle of bingeing and purging, rather than purging alone, and often use other extreme weight-loss methods. Laxatives, diet pills, compulsive exercise and extreme fasting are methods often used by those suffering from bulimia. In addition, victims may also hide food for later binges and often eat in secrecy.

Compulsive Overeating

Those suffering from compulsive overeating have a condition characterized as an addiction to food, where eating offers comfort and acts as a buffer for extreme emotions.

Nearly 29% of Exeter students and 17% Woodlake students said that they are overweight and need to make a change, many of them feeling pressured by family, peers and media.

Feeling guilty of not being good enough, attractive enough or thin enough, sufferers are often forced by society to hide behind their weight. With a low self-esteem and constant need for love, affection, acceptance and validation, those suffering from compulsive overeating are subject to develop anorexia or bulimia, in attempts to be “normal.”

Living with Eating Disorders

It is common for teens living with an eating disorder to have a severe distorted perception of them, causing the reflection in the mirror to be far from reality. According to www.something-fishy.org, a self-help web site for eating disorders, those suffering from an eating disorder often think in black and white, where bad situations or feelings translate in their minds as the end of the world and good experiences or feelings are life highlights, as bright as the sun. Without the stability of thinking on a middle ground, it's no wonder that teens often run wild with their disorders, destroying their minds and bodies.

Those suffering with eating disorders are often known for taking on the unfair burdens of the world, feeling responsible to cure others to make the world a better place. This helps the person feel as though they are in control of something, despite their loss of control in their own lives.

Twenty-two percent Exeter students and 10.25 percent Woodlake students said that they were concerned for a friend or family member's dangerous dieting.

“I have a friend at school and he thinks he's fat but he isn't,” said Woodlake junior Leslie Campillo. “He goes days without eating. It's ridiculous. You can't do that because it's really dangerous for your health,” she continued. “I tried talking to him but he doesn't listen. He just feels fat.”

Self-blame is another aspect that contributes to the snowball effect of an eating disorder. Feeling as though they deserved their misfortune, some victims punish themselves while others focus on punishing the world and blaming family members, friends or strangers for their disorder. Lacking in optimism, those who suffer from an eating disorder tend to gravitate towards drama and find control in confrontation, keeping all eyes on them but for all the wrong reasons.

Raising awareness within schools and communities is important, however several teens from each school expressed that despite what some may assume they are fully aware of their bodies and the changes they need or should not make. A little over 9% of Exeter students and 6% of Woodlake students said that they are underweight; 11.75% of Exeter students and 9% of Woodlake students claim to be known as a people who yo-yo diet.

Parents, doctors, educators and friends of those suffering with eating disorders are faced with the responsibility of investigating the trigger that caused the disorder. Narrowing down possible triggers can take more energy and work than required and according to www.ANRED.com (Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc.), most triggers point to mental illnesses, family and media.

Mental Illness Impact

In some cases, a person's eating disorder is a secondary symptom or co-exists with a psychological disorder. Some psychological illnesses that can be found in people suffering from anorexia, bulimia and compulsive overeating are obsession, depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, bipolar disorder, panic disorders and more.

Some people suffering with an eating disorder may also be exhibiting other addictive or self-destructive behaviors, including alcoholism, drug addiction, abuse of prescriptions and other medicines, self-injury, cutting and self-mutilation.

About 20% of Exeter students and 9% of Woodlake students said they feel pressured about their weight by friends, family or media.

“I feel pressured,” said Woodlake student, Johnny Cendejas. “I'm 5'6” and I weight 150 pounds. It matters how I look and how much I weigh because I try to be skinny and keep my weight around 150 or less,” he continued. “I keep the weight down when I don't eat that much and I run a lot.”

Family Factors

Some people feel smothered by overprotective families or feel abandoned, misunderstood and alone. Critical comments and playful badgering can also contribute to an eating disorder.

“I weigh more than the people I know. I think I'm overweight and my dad always tells me to be careful with my food and tells me that food will make be bigger,” said Edwards. “I have a cousin who moved away and gained a lot of weight and our family wants her to lose it. She's killing herself.”

Common family situations that have been attributed to eating disorders are overly emotional mothers and emotionally or physically absent fathers. There are also high family expectations for success that cause a teen to protect their emotions, doubts, fears, anxieties and imperfections, leading them to release emotional pain through an eating disorder.

Role of the Media

The differences between media images and the reality of happy, successful men and women are huge. Thin, attractive actors or models are often portrayed as happy, independent, loved and desirable while those overweight are often seen as frumpy losers, evil, physically challenged and gluttonous.

“It's sad because most celebrities are not good role models,” said Executive Director of Eating Disorders Resource Center, Janice Bremis. “Most have eating disorders and unfortunately, students model their behavior after the unrealistic entertainment world. Our society pulls the trigger because of the messages they send to teens.”

About 24% of Exeter students and 11% of Woodlake students said that they wished to look more like a celebrity or model.

“I am obsessed over the food shows and I love to cook so I try to watch those shows to change what I'm eating,” said Stoner. “The stars can get down to their perfect size really fast. I wish I could lose weight as quick as they do.”

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the average American woman is 5'4” and weighs 140 pounds while the average American model is 5'11” and weighs 117 pounds, sending a very loud message to teens.

Teens are experts at reading between the lines and in a simple commercial or magazine advertisement, they will pick up on negative messages that promote being thin, powerful, successful, popular, attractive and many other fairytale lifestyles.

If advertisements, commercials, magazines and movies said what teens read, hear and see, the narration might go as follows: “You're not good enough for your family, friends or society and without our product, you never will be. To be accepted, you should look like this six-foot tall model that's bulimic and eats cotton balls. Did we mention the advanced technology of makeup, hairspray and computer programs that transform her true beauty into a warped idea of perfection? Buy our product, starve yourself and just maybe you'll be lucky enough to look this good. If it doesn't work, better luck next time.”

It is important that parents discuss the difference between Hollywood and reality with teens. A question to ask is, “does this image present the real world to me or does it show a fun-house mirror that reflects distortions and promotes eating disorders?”

Fighting Back

Dove, a highly respected company, is fighting the affects that the media has on women throughout the world. In an effort to reveal true beauty that doesn't require touch-ups or layers of makeup, Dove hired models of all shapes, sizes and color to join the self-esteem campaign that promotes healthy minds and healthy bodies. For more information about the campaign, visit www.campaignforrealbeauty.com.

Recent changes to the fashion industry have been made as designers and photographers are starting to dress healthy, curvy models and fewer underweight and overworked women who need to be in recovery instead of on the runway. Although most companies have quietly made changes, the Italian clothing firm, No-l-ita, features images of a nude emaciated woman along with the slogan, “No Anorexia”. Although the images have created much controversy and are not appropriate for young eyes, they may be worth sharing with a person in danger of death by an eating disorder.

Putting disorders out of a job

Although 6.5 percent of Exeter students and 5.5 percent of Woodlake students said to be dieting under a doctor's supervision, some teens disregard health advice given by family or doctors, causing long-term problems.

“We owe it to students to teach them how to make informed decisions regardless if it has to do with which college to attend or what foods to eat or how to say no to the pressures from peers and others to do unsafe and unhealthy things,” said Graziani. “Most of us want to improve and be better. We want to be better students, athletes, parents and citizens. The problem becomes how we define ‘better' and go about it.”

Providing education, insight, and a corrective emotional experience, allowing the student to rectify faulty thought patterns, fill in developmental deficits and internalize missing psychological functions is something that WebMd.com strongly suggests be done in the care of a psychologist. In individual therapy, it is the relationship between the therapist and patient, rather than any certain technique, that is the most curative aspect.

Although clinics and hospitals can treat a teen for immediate medical needs, fighting an eating disorder is a long-term, up-hill battle that should be done in the care of a specialist. Despite the need, the Central Valley is short-ended on doctors and pediatricians who are willing to take a direct approach to eating disorders. Most physicians send patients to therapy or Stanford, where an eating disorder outpatient unit is among the best in the nation.

For 24/7 assistance, call Stanford's parent line at 1-650-498-5437 or 1-650-498-4468, which is connected to the eating disorder outpatient unit. The Paackard Eating Disorder Clinic, 1-650-694-0600 is another starting place for parents who can also email Executive Director of Eating Disorders Resource Center, Janice Bremis, at www.edrcsv.org. Deb Burgard, a psychologist who specializes in eating disorders can be reached at 650-321-2606 or visit her website at bodyposative.com.

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