There has always been a fascination for looking beautiful in our society. People go to extremes in order to look their best. The most sought after quality is the ideal weight. Skinny has always been in season, whereas chunky is a fashion faux pas. Being skinny makes people envious. People of every race, gender, or age want to be skinny. Magazines depict models and celebrities as skinny, bearing it all while flashing million dollar smile. The desire to imitate these idols leads to extreme measures to attain this beauty. Teenage girls, in particular, go to extreme measures to imitate their favorite celebrities. These girls become obsessed and do not take into consideration what this obsession can do to their health.
In a society that focuses more on the materialistic and appearance of things, being skinny is the ideal goal. No one wants to be the sore thumb sticking out in a world where skinny people reign supreme. This has leaded many to engage in diets. “Weight preoccupation in pre-pubertal girls is a concern because dieting at this age can impact growth and may increase risk for fatigue, irritability, low self-esteem, depression, and eating disorders," said lead author Nancy E. Sherwood, PhD, of the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. This preoccupation isn’t a bad thing at all. It beats being obese. “More U.S. teens than ever--9 million of them--are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Currently, 16 percent of girls ages 6 to 19 are overweight. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports a major surge in the number of cases of type 2 diabetes among teen girls, especially minorities. Type 2 is the kind you get when you are overweight, unlike Type 1, which happens when your body can't produce insulin. As if that weren't enough to scare you, overweight teens are now also developing diseases like hypertension, high cholesterol and weight-related asthma, conditions previously associated predominantly with adults” (Kemp, 1). However without moderation and constant motoring, the obsession with looking skinny to avoid being obese or receiving complications can lead to dramatic problems.
“Proper nutrition is essential to keeping teens healthy and able to grow and develop properly. Eating right also helps teens participate better in school and athletic activities. The nutritional status and health of children and adolescents has declined in recent years. Government surveys have shown that at least 16% of children and adolescents age 6 to 19 years old are considered overweight and at least 11% of adolescents now are classified as obese. In 2000, more than 16% of the population under age 18 years lived in poverty, often receiving poor nutrition as a result” (Diet, Nutrition, and Weight Issues among Children and Adolescents, 2). This fear propels more people to go on diets, but these diets have resulted in problems such as eating disorders. “Eating disorders lead to poor nutritional status and can affect growth and development for teenagers of both sexes. They rank as the third most common form of chronic illness in adolescent girls, affecting as many as 5% of teenage girls” (Diet, Nutrition, and Weight Issues among Children and Adolescents, 1).
“Nearly 30% of the girls reported trying to lose weight, the researchers found. Most of the dieters reported using healthy methods to lose weight, such as increasing their levels of exercise and decreasing their consumption of high-fat foods, but a small number of study participants (n=12) said they took diet pills, purged, or took laxatives to lose weight” (Girls Can Internalize Negative Body Images Even As Pre-Adolescents, 1). With 30% of girls dieting in a healthy way, that leaves a 70% who does not. This raises concerns in how they are losing this weight. There are numerous factors in propelling girls to lose weight in whatever ways they can. However, engaging in activities that will lead to eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia can be dangerous. When asked about their areas of focused girls stated “the most dissatisfaction with their stomach, thighs, and body weight, and they were most satisfied with their height, face, and body shape” (Girls Can Internalize Negative Body Images Even As Pre-Adolescents, 2), leading to their decision in dieting that possesses dangerous outcomes. Who is to blame for this? A big factor is the influence of the media. “Many kids have poor body images due to the enormous pressure in celebrity culture to be super skinny," explains Susan S. Bartell, author of The Girls-Only Weight Loss Guide. “In the past five years, the numbers of magazines, websites and TV shows dedicated to celebrity worship have exploded. So girls see more images of "perfect" bodies” (Kemp, 1). There must be a stop to this obsession because it is unhealthy. The study, published in the September 2004 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, found that girls who followed a calcium-rich diet, including dairy foods and calcium-fortified foods, did not experience greater increases in body weight or body mass index compared with girls on their usual diet. This means that there are ways to partake diets that are not harmful. Eating healthy and consuming the proper nutrients can also lead to weight lost. There is no need to limit one in food intake and exercise until there is nothing but skin and bones left on the body. This is because low nutrient intake can lead to complications. “Insufficient vitamin D can stunt growth and foster weight gain during puberty, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism” (Lack of vitamin D causes weight gain and stunts growth in girls, 1). This will only bring girls back to their original problem of trying to lose weight. This is why it is not wise to skip on the daily nutrient intake. Also, “because lack of vitamin D can cause fat accumulation and increased risk for chronic disorders later in life, further investigation is needed to determine whether vitamin D supplements could have potential benefits in the healthy development of young people," (Lack of vitamin D causes weight gain and stunts growth in girls, 2).
There are numerous solutions to this problem. The first is to learn about a healthy weight. Education is most important because knowledge can do wonders. Most girls have the perception that they are overweight or something is wrong with their bodies. However, most of the time there is nothing wrong. This is why it is best to speak with a primary care physician to learn more about the right weight and what can be done to stay healthy. The second thing to do is commit good habits. Eating right, exercising daily, and not engaging in dangerous ways to lose weight will yield positive results. This is like a broken recorder being mentioned daily because it works. “Studies show that girls who are physically active are more satisfied with how they look--regardless of what the scales say” (Kemp, 2). The third thing is to stop comparing yourself with others. Celebrities are not born that way, but they work in order to look the way they do. This is why it is best to develop good and healthy habits to get to a desirable weight. Also, there is no need for comparison. Everyone is different; therefore everyone will have a weight that is healthy for them. As long as a healthy lifestyle is maintained, one will feel great and look great. The best solution of all is to have a combination of the three things mentioned to live a happy healthy life. This will ensure that the borderline between being healthy and dangerously thin is not crossed.
Like everything else in life, obsession with weight and staying in shape, is best at moderation. There is no need to go to extremes in order to look good. This is because when extreme measures are used, there are dangerous and harmful results. We must make the right decision in determining what is best for us. Is it to better to be healthy, or be unhealthy all in an effort to fit in with the norms? If girls learn more about healthy lifestyles and weight, then they might make the right choice in escaping the fate of becoming ill due to going overboard with being thin.
Works Cited
"Calcium-rich diets not linked to excessive weight gain in young girls." Women's Health Weekly (Sept 23, 2004): 62. General OneFile. Gale. Patrick F Taylor Science & Tech Academy. 9 Feb. 2010.
"Diet, Nutrition, and Weight Issues among Children and Adolescents." Weight in America: Obesity, Eating Disorders, and Other Health Risks. Detroit: Gale, 2009. 23 pp. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. Patrick F Taylor Science & Tech Academy. 9 Feb. 2010.
"Girls Can Internalize Negative Body Images Even As Pre-Adolescents." Women's Health Weekly (March 22, 2001): 13. General OneFile. Gale. Patrick F Taylor Science & Tech Academy. 9 Feb. 2010.
Kemp, Kristen. "Special report: weighing in." Girls' Life 12.6 (June-July 2006): 64(5). General OneFile. Gale. Patrick F Taylor Science & Tech Academy. 9 Feb. 2010.
"Lack of vitamin D causes weight gain and stunts growth in girls." Women's Health Weekly (Dec 25, 2008): 23. General OneFile. Gale. Patrick F Taylor Science & Tech Academy. 9 Feb. 2010.
Odle, Teresa. "Adolescent nutrition." The Gale Encyclopedia of Diets: A Guide to Health and Nutrition. Ed. Jacqueline Longe. Vol. 1. Detroit: Thomson Gale, 2008. 5 pp. 2 vols. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. Patrick F Taylor Science & Tech Academy. 9 Feb. 2010.
Worcester, Sharon. "Disordered eating in girls: weight status is key." Clinical Psychiatry News 32.12 (Dec 2004): 31(1). General OneFile. Gale. Patrick F Taylor Science & Tech Academy. 9 Feb. 2010.
In a society that focuses more on the materialistic and appearance of things, being skinny is the ideal goal. No one wants to be the sore thumb sticking out in a world where skinny people reign supreme. This has leaded many to engage in diets. “Weight preoccupation in pre-pubertal girls is a concern because dieting at this age can impact growth and may increase risk for fatigue, irritability, low self-esteem, depression, and eating disorders," said lead author Nancy E. Sherwood, PhD, of the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. This preoccupation isn’t a bad thing at all. It beats being obese. “More U.S. teens than ever--9 million of them--are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Currently, 16 percent of girls ages 6 to 19 are overweight. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports a major surge in the number of cases of type 2 diabetes among teen girls, especially minorities. Type 2 is the kind you get when you are overweight, unlike Type 1, which happens when your body can't produce insulin. As if that weren't enough to scare you, overweight teens are now also developing diseases like hypertension, high cholesterol and weight-related asthma, conditions previously associated predominantly with adults” (Kemp, 1). However without moderation and constant motoring, the obsession with looking skinny to avoid being obese or receiving complications can lead to dramatic problems.
“Proper nutrition is essential to keeping teens healthy and able to grow and develop properly. Eating right also helps teens participate better in school and athletic activities. The nutritional status and health of children and adolescents has declined in recent years. Government surveys have shown that at least 16% of children and adolescents age 6 to 19 years old are considered overweight and at least 11% of adolescents now are classified as obese. In 2000, more than 16% of the population under age 18 years lived in poverty, often receiving poor nutrition as a result” (Diet, Nutrition, and Weight Issues among Children and Adolescents, 2). This fear propels more people to go on diets, but these diets have resulted in problems such as eating disorders. “Eating disorders lead to poor nutritional status and can affect growth and development for teenagers of both sexes. They rank as the third most common form of chronic illness in adolescent girls, affecting as many as 5% of teenage girls” (Diet, Nutrition, and Weight Issues among Children and Adolescents, 1).
“Nearly 30% of the girls reported trying to lose weight, the researchers found. Most of the dieters reported using healthy methods to lose weight, such as increasing their levels of exercise and decreasing their consumption of high-fat foods, but a small number of study participants (n=12) said they took diet pills, purged, or took laxatives to lose weight” (Girls Can Internalize Negative Body Images Even As Pre-Adolescents, 1). With 30% of girls dieting in a healthy way, that leaves a 70% who does not. This raises concerns in how they are losing this weight. There are numerous factors in propelling girls to lose weight in whatever ways they can. However, engaging in activities that will lead to eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia can be dangerous. When asked about their areas of focused girls stated “the most dissatisfaction with their stomach, thighs, and body weight, and they were most satisfied with their height, face, and body shape” (Girls Can Internalize Negative Body Images Even As Pre-Adolescents, 2), leading to their decision in dieting that possesses dangerous outcomes. Who is to blame for this? A big factor is the influence of the media. “Many kids have poor body images due to the enormous pressure in celebrity culture to be super skinny," explains Susan S. Bartell, author of The Girls-Only Weight Loss Guide. “In the past five years, the numbers of magazines, websites and TV shows dedicated to celebrity worship have exploded. So girls see more images of "perfect" bodies” (Kemp, 1). There must be a stop to this obsession because it is unhealthy. The study, published in the September 2004 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, found that girls who followed a calcium-rich diet, including dairy foods and calcium-fortified foods, did not experience greater increases in body weight or body mass index compared with girls on their usual diet. This means that there are ways to partake diets that are not harmful. Eating healthy and consuming the proper nutrients can also lead to weight lost. There is no need to limit one in food intake and exercise until there is nothing but skin and bones left on the body. This is because low nutrient intake can lead to complications. “Insufficient vitamin D can stunt growth and foster weight gain during puberty, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism” (Lack of vitamin D causes weight gain and stunts growth in girls, 1). This will only bring girls back to their original problem of trying to lose weight. This is why it is not wise to skip on the daily nutrient intake. Also, “because lack of vitamin D can cause fat accumulation and increased risk for chronic disorders later in life, further investigation is needed to determine whether vitamin D supplements could have potential benefits in the healthy development of young people," (Lack of vitamin D causes weight gain and stunts growth in girls, 2).
There are numerous solutions to this problem. The first is to learn about a healthy weight. Education is most important because knowledge can do wonders. Most girls have the perception that they are overweight or something is wrong with their bodies. However, most of the time there is nothing wrong. This is why it is best to speak with a primary care physician to learn more about the right weight and what can be done to stay healthy. The second thing to do is commit good habits. Eating right, exercising daily, and not engaging in dangerous ways to lose weight will yield positive results. This is like a broken recorder being mentioned daily because it works. “Studies show that girls who are physically active are more satisfied with how they look--regardless of what the scales say” (Kemp, 2). The third thing is to stop comparing yourself with others. Celebrities are not born that way, but they work in order to look the way they do. This is why it is best to develop good and healthy habits to get to a desirable weight. Also, there is no need for comparison. Everyone is different; therefore everyone will have a weight that is healthy for them. As long as a healthy lifestyle is maintained, one will feel great and look great. The best solution of all is to have a combination of the three things mentioned to live a happy healthy life. This will ensure that the borderline between being healthy and dangerously thin is not crossed.
Like everything else in life, obsession with weight and staying in shape, is best at moderation. There is no need to go to extremes in order to look good. This is because when extreme measures are used, there are dangerous and harmful results. We must make the right decision in determining what is best for us. Is it to better to be healthy, or be unhealthy all in an effort to fit in with the norms? If girls learn more about healthy lifestyles and weight, then they might make the right choice in escaping the fate of becoming ill due to going overboard with being thin.
Works Cited
"Calcium-rich diets not linked to excessive weight gain in young girls." Women's Health Weekly (Sept 23, 2004): 62. General OneFile. Gale. Patrick F Taylor Science & Tech Academy. 9 Feb. 2010
"Diet, Nutrition, and Weight Issues among Children and Adolescents." Weight in America: Obesity, Eating Disorders, and Other Health Risks. Detroit: Gale, 2009. 23 pp. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. Patrick F Taylor Science & Tech Academy. 9 Feb. 2010
"Girls Can Internalize Negative Body Images Even As Pre-Adolescents." Women's Health Weekly (March 22, 2001): 13. General OneFile. Gale. Patrick F Taylor Science & Tech Academy. 9 Feb. 2010
Kemp, Kristen. "Special report: weighing in." Girls' Life 12.6 (June-July 2006): 64(5). General OneFile. Gale. Patrick F Taylor Science & Tech Academy. 9 Feb. 2010
"Lack of vitamin D causes weight gain and stunts growth in girls." Women's Health Weekly (Dec 25, 2008): 23. General OneFile. Gale. Patrick F Taylor Science & Tech Academy. 9 Feb. 2010
Odle, Teresa. "Adolescent nutrition." The Gale Encyclopedia of Diets: A Guide to Health and Nutrition. Ed. Jacqueline Longe. Vol. 1. Detroit: Thomson Gale, 2008. 5 pp. 2 vols. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. Patrick F Taylor Science & Tech Academy. 9 Feb. 2010
Worcester, Sharon. "Disordered eating in girls: weight status is key." Clinical Psychiatry News 32.12 (Dec 2004): 31(1). General OneFile. Gale. Patrick F Taylor Science & Tech Academy. 9 Feb. 2010
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