Disordered Eating V/S Fostering a Positive Body Image in Adolescents

Over concerns with body image and shape may lead to potentially dangerous disordered eating behaviors [1-3]. Eating disorders -Anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) are disorders characterized by abnormal patterns of eating behavior and disturbances in attitudes and perceptions toward weight and shape .The etiology of these disorders is presumed to be influenced by developmental, social, and biological processes [4,5]. People nowadays, consider themselves knowledgeable, as they spend notable amount of time reviewing mutable online information about Nutrition and Health from unreliable sources. Unhealthy dieting and disordered eating behaviors among youth are of concern as they have the potential to adversely affect nutrient intake, mental health status, and long-term health outcomes [6]. Skipping meals, fasting, eating less, consuming a food substitute and in extreme conditions taking diet pills, purging, use of diuretics and laxatives are commonly adopted methods for weight control [2]. Study findings indicate that adolescents who engage themselves in disordered eating behavior are at a risk of weight gain and obesity in future. Furthermore, in an analysis it was found that adolescents engaging in dieting and those reporting unhealthy weight control behaviors were at two to three times greater risk of being overweight five years later, as compared to adolescents who did not engage in these behaviors at baseline [4]. Moreover, eating disorders are more prevalent among adolescent girls [6]. Body shaming: criticism about a person’s body size or shape is the root cause, which leads to dissatisfaction with one’s body shape. Social norms, peer and media influences, family dynamics are major contributory factors [2].