My Research
Eating Disorders among Adolescent Females
Section I
Eating disorders are most prevalent
among college-aged females, but it is a growing problem in high schools and
even in middle schools. Children are becoming preoccupied with weight and
dieting at younger ages than ever before. High school females especially are
often obsessed with their appearances and being thin, leading to eating disorders.
Anorexia and bulimia are serious medical problems that can lead to many other
complications, including death.
The questions most prevalent to this
project are the reasons behind the increase in eating disorders, the underlying
causes of anorexia and bulimia, and ways to treat and deal with people with
these diseases.
I volunteer with and minister to high school students through an organization called Young Life. There are 70 other leaders in this area and thousands across the country. Young Life leaders and other such workers are my audience because they are in such close contact with high school students, yet are without psychological or counseling training. Eating disorders are an issue, and those working with high school girls want to know more.
Search Engine on Web http://www.google.com/
eating disorders and high school students
adolescents and anorexia
UNC Library Catalog
eating disorders
anorexia and adolescence
Academic Universe Lexis-Nexis
anorexia
eating disorders AND adolescents
Section II
Print Sources
Gordon, Richard A., ed., et al. Eating
Disorders and Cultures in Transition. New York:
Taylor & Francis, 2001. RC552.B4 C584 2001
Robert-McComb, Jacalyn J., ed. Eating Disorders in Women and Children: prevention,
stress management, and treatment. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2001.
RC552.E18 E2835 2001
Nonprint Source
Dying to be Thin. Dir. Michael Werteen.
Videocassette. Princeton, N.J.: Films for the
Humanities and Sciences, 1995.
Section III
Academic Universe Lexis-Nexis Sources
Brody, Jane E. (2000, December 12). PERSONAL HEALTH; Exposing the Perils of Eating Disorders. The New York Times [online], 25 paragraphs. Available: Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe [2002, February 2].
Das-Gupta, Indira. (2001, February 23). It's Still Fashionable To Be Slim-Even After Bid To End Superwaif Look. Evening Standard [online], 25. Available: Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe [2002, February 2].
Rumbelow, Helen. (2000, May 31). Anorexia 'fed by skinny images in media.' The Times [online], 10 paragraphs. Available: Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe [2002, February 2].
(2000, April 21-28). EATING DISORDERS: Anorexia, Bulimia May Have Genetic Source. Genomics & Genetics Weekly [online], 8-9. Available: Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe [2002, February 2].
(2001, July 12-19). ANOREXIA: Sufferers Often Socialize With Others Having Same Problem. Women's Health Weekly [online], 11. Available: Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe [2002, February 2].
(2000, December 7-14). EATING DISORDERS: Pefectionists Abound in Anorexia Nervosa Population. Women's Health Weekly [online], 2-3. Available: Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe [2002, February 2].
Section IV
Web Sources
Title of Web Page: Rader Programs: Specializing
in the Treatment of Compulsive Overeating, Anorexia and Bulimia
Web Address: http://www.raderprograms.com
Brief Description: This Web site provides good information about eating disorders,
the types of disorders, causes, symptoms, and prevalence. It also outlines
its philosophy of treatment, both physiological and psychological. The Web
site provides more specific information as well about certain issues in eating
disorders and gives links to other sources.
Source of Web site: Rader Programs
Title of Web page: Facts About Eating
Disorders
Web address: http://www.anad.org/facts.htm
Brief Description: This site provides general facts about anorexia, including
prevalence, age, duration and treatment. There are links to definitions, a
high school study, and more thorough information on anorexia and treatment.
Source of Web site: National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated
Disorders
Title of Web page: Teenagers with Eating
Disorders
Web address: http://www.aacap.org/publications/factsfam/eating.htm
Brief description: This site gives specific information for parents on identifying
the symptoms of anorexia and bulimia in their adolescent children. It also
briefly discussed the importance of treatment.
Source of Web site: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Title of Web page: What are Eating Disorders?
Web address: http://my.webmd.com/content/article/1680.50411
Brief description: The article on this site provides specific information
about the nature of anorexia and bulimia. It also outlines factors in eating
disorders such as gender, age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. It provides
basic psychological characteristics of those who have or are prone to anorexia
and bulimia.
Source of Web site: WebMD Corporation
Title of Web page: Center for Change
Web address: http://centerforchange.com
Brief description: The Center for Change is a treatment center for women with
eating disorders. The site outlines the Center's philosophy and methods of
treatment. It also has an extensive list of articles and other links for more
information, including articles that specifically address adolescents with
eating disorders.
Source of Web site: Center for Change, Incorporated
Section V
Mini-essay
It is estimated that 1-2 percent of
American women have anorexia nervosa and up to 3 percent of adolescent girls
have bulimia nervosa (1). Both anorexia and bulimia often begin in middle
and high school and continue through college if not treated. A 1990 study
by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders found
that eleven percent of high school students suffered from an eating disorder,
most of them female (2). Many more high school students deal with low self-esteem
and body image.
Most teenagers who develop anorexia
and bulimia tend to be perfectionists and high achievers in school, even scoring
higher than average on IQ tests (3). They also have a need to be in control,
often worry and are more pessimistic than young women without eating disorders.
Media influences are believed to have an effect on the number of adolescent
girls with eating disorders. Advertising, movies, television, and modeling
all portray extremely thin women as being beautiful, often leading to lowered
self-esteem and preoccupation with weight in some high school students. New
research now suggests that in addition to all of these factors, genetics may
play a role in the propensity for developing eating disorders.
Anorexia and bulimia are long known to be the most deadly of all mental illnesses and also the most difficult to treat. These diseases are treated best if they are caught early, but that is not often the case. Most treatment programs recommend extended psychotherapy and psychological counseling. They also include medical and nutritional therapy, family counseling, and group counseling.
NOTES:
(1) Anorexia Nervosa. (2002) [Online]. Available: www.aedweb.org/index2.htm
[2002, February 5].
(2) High School Study on Eating Disorders. (2000) [Online]. Available: www.anad.org/hsstudy.htm
[2002, February 5].
(3) What are Eating Disorders? (1999, March) [Online]. Available: my.webmd.com/content/article/1680.50411
[2002, February 5].
THREE WEB SITES:
Title of Web page: Academy for Eating
Disorders
Web address: http://www.aedweb.org/index2.html
Brief description: Provides in-depth information on eating disorders, as well
as research and treatment information and links to other relevant pages
Source of Web site: Academy for Eating Disorders
Title of Web page: Eating Disorders:
Anorexia and Bulimia
Web address: http://kidshealth.org/teen/nutrition/menu/eat_disorder.html
Brief description: Provides information about eating disorders, specifically
how they affect teenage girls
Source of Web site: The NEMOURS FOUNDATION
Title of Web page: National Eating Disorders
Screening Program targets high school segment
Web address: http://www.nfhs.org/sportsmed/screening.htm
Brief description: Outlines results of a program for screening high school
athletes for eating disorders
Source of Web site: National Federation of State High School Associations