Post: Lindsay Lohan Eating Disorder Admission Should Be a Reality Check For Teens
Lindsay Lohan Eating Disorder Admission Should Be a Reality Check For Teens
By now you've probably heard that Lindsay Lohan admitted she has the eating disorder Bulimia, which is when you eat a lot and then make yourself throw up because you don't want to gain weight. Girls often feel pressure from images on TV and in the movies to be skinny. Sometimes they make you feel that if only you were as skinny as them you would be incredibly happy, popular, have an amazing boyfriend and maybe even be rich! Hah! This just isn't true -- lots of things in the movies and on TV aren't true. And Lindsay Lohan's admission proves it. Her life seems happy -- even perfect -- but actually she's suffering from an illness that could kill her. All because she wanted to be thinner than she needed to be.
Although it is important to be healthy, being too thin and especially depriving and hurting your body to get thin is definitely NOT healthy -- in fact you can die from it! Starving yourself or throwing up to be thin can be even worse than overeating or being overweight. In fact it is almost impossible to look the way Lindsay Lohan looked and still be healthy! Being at a healthy weight does not mean being super-thin. Your body needs food to grow healthily and if you're too thin you won't grow and develop the way you should. This is why girls with Bulimia and other eating disorders often end up spending a lot of their lives in the hospital.
If you are overweight and you don't like the way you look, it's important to do something about it. But that does not mean starving yourself, throwing up, taking drugs or anything else that can hurt your body. Make good choices, lose weight slowly and be healthy. If you don't need to lose weight, but you still think you do, it's important to speak to an adult you trust to help yourself begin get a healthier body image.
Be healthy and happy -- they go together.
You can read more from Dr. Susan on her blog: www.girlsonlyweightloss.blogspot.com
There are 1 replies to this post
Date: January 10, 2006
It's difficult for many people to understand the reasoning behind someone having an eating disorder.....it's just easier for all of us to blame TV. I don't condone everything on television, but I have to say, it's become too much of a scapegoat. Sometimes parents have to look at what is happening in their own lives and in their own homes before they rally the lynchmob. Overlooking a child's personal problems to attack a 3rd party does more harm than good.
Someone with an eating disorder feels powerless, out of control, under pressure, and/or inadequate in ALL aspects of their lives. Not just their appearance.
They may be held to unobtainable high standards by their parents and teachers. Most persons with EDO are excellent students...but in some way, they do not feel "good enough." Children with overbearing, perfectionist parents that are concerned with the family's image of money, religion, success, grades, sports, etc etc are likely to turn to obsessive compulsive behavoir which often goes hand-in-hand with eating disorders. (Not to mention, self-injury may occur as well) Many children may have been sexually abused. They all suffer a great deal of anxiety every day of their life. They are struggling to find comfort and control...and often times they find that in their own image.
The reasoning: They find comfort in controling what goes in and out of their bodies...cause they have no control over anything else.
Bulimia and anorexia are side effects of a much deeper problem that will not go away just by shutting off your TV.