Anorexia and bulimia are rapidly growing diseases among young girls and women. How can we show them that body image is not all that matters?
2007-07-09 02:43:16 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Women's Health
Well we dont have to do anything,The parents are the ones that should be talking to there kids and telling them the risks.
2007-07-09 02:57:30 · answer #1 · answered by ER Doctor 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Point out role models who are not super thin , etc, but who exhibit true beauty - helping others, ambition, intelligence, that kind of stuff. Encourage them to read, use art supplies, develope talents, and make friends. I struggled with an eating disorder from the age of nine to thirteen and during the times when I was bored and lonely was when my eating disorder hit its worst point. Maybe it's not that way for everyone.
Ask them what they think beauty is. Tell them what you think beauty is. Young girls should be allowed to wear makeup, but keep it looking natural to bring a glow and some color to their face...not to hide anything. Help girls look for clothes that are not too big or too small, too revealing or too concealing. Do your research on the internet about what models go through to look the way they do. Constant dieting, an hour or more of makeup time, hair gel, etc, etc...something no person in real life could measure up to, no matter how stunning they are. Because in the magazines nobody has any flaws whatsoever. Even I find it unnerving.
Teach girls how to eat naturally and healthfully. Keep a bowl of fresh fruit on the table. Let them have bagels with cream cheese, chocolate chip cookies, and all the other foods they enjoy. My parents never cooked for me or anything so I developed very bad eating habits to say the least.
Well, that is all I can think of for now. Kudos to you for being thoughtful enough to take some action. :)
2007-07-09 09:53:06 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
As a woman who has been through an eating disorder and knows the ins and outs of body image the simple answer is, talking. T.V. and magazines are littered with women who are not average and airbrushed we need to talk to our young girls to tell them this is not the norm. Setting up chat sessions in schools or groups outside of school to discuss healthy eating and body image. Giving them a way to express what they are feeling will show them that they are not alone in how they feel and support of others will help. We unfortunately can't stop what they see on T.V but at least we can familiarize them with what is real and not altered.
2007-07-09 10:01:51 · answer #3 · answered by Butterfly 78 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
it's tough because it's a part of adolescent development to be conscious of one's self. But it has alot to do with personal environment. For example a mom or older sister obcessed with their hair, or always on diets, or picking out clothes to "hide" or "boost" body image. all of those comments and situations are absorbed into the young girls mind, not to mention magazines, sexy shows, and men's behavior towards more sexually appealing girls. it's not something that will change quickly. Plus proper nutrition is a good place to start.
2007-07-09 09:47:38 · answer #4 · answered by Angeleyez 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Turn off the boob tube. Seriously, get rid of the tv set while they are still small children. Kids spend way too much time in front of the electronic babysitter, and what do they see? Anorexic women made to appear the epitome of physical beauty, and naturally they get a very skewed idea of what they 'should' look llike. Get rid of those tv sets and I would be willing to bet the eating disorders would go waay down, if not disappear altogether.
2007-07-09 09:47:11 · answer #5 · answered by essentiallysolo 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Make all skinny people fat and well be happy. Ok?
2007-07-09 09:48:14 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
stop making televisions and magazine
2007-07-09 09:51:52 · answer #7 · answered by sheru 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
ban MTV..
2007-07-09 09:45:20 · answer #8 · answered by Jennifer The Red 2 · 2⤊ 3⤋