Anorexia

            
            
            
             Just imagine having a condition that affects every part of you, your body, and your mind. In the world that we live in today, every magazine cover, every TV show, and even in your own school, you see beautiful, skinny girls that seem to have everything they want. They seem to be popular, always happy, and have the perfect bodies. I am going to discuss a few reasons as to why people turn to anorexia. The first reason why girls turn to anorexia is adolescence. Secondly I will talk about how genetic and biological influences can trigger a girl to become anorexic. Finally, I will tell you how being ridiculed by your peers can eventually lead to anorexia. These are just three of many causes of anorexia.
             Many girls beginning to go through adolescence feel that in order to be these perfect girls, they have to be skinny. Affected adolescents ignore and even lose their hunger sensations. The motivation to be thin keeps them from eating. An anorexic begins to about all different ways in order to lose weight. For example, as said by Lisa Turk "I'm a teenage drama queen, I'll throw my guts up for self esteem."" The adolescent, with a severe case of anorexia suffers from arrested physical and psychological growth and development. The onset of anorexia in adolescence is attributed to a developmental crisis caused by girls' changing bodies coupled with society's overemphasis on women's looks. The increasing influence of the mass media in spreading and reinforcing gender stereotypes also affects adolescents view of perfection. The risk of developing anorexia is higher among adolescents preparing for careers that involve attention to weight and/or appearance. These high-risk groups include dancers, fashion models, professional athletes (including gymnasts, skaters, long-distance runners, and jockeys), and actresses. As Lindsay Feldman, an anorexic girl once said, "I didn't eat today, I'm not going to eat tomorrow, cause I'm going to be a supermodel.