A study from the University of Texas and Stanford University School of Medicine has revealed that girls who use drastic measures to lose weight are more likely to become obese.

For the purposes of this study, "drastic measures" included excessive exercise, radical diets, appetite suppressants, laxatives, and vomiting.

Writing in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Dr. Eric Stice noted that the girls in the study may have miscalculated the amount of food they were eating and the extent to which they were exercising.

Labels: exercise, weight_gain, teens, girls, obesity

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There has been an increasing body of evidence lately about the benefits of family meals. In general, children who often eat dinner with their families also eat less fast food, drink less pop, and make healthier food choices when they're not with their families. Also, girls who regularly eat dinner with their families are less likely to develop eating disorders.

Researchers are generally unsure exactly how family meals provide all these benefits, [Sarah] Woodruff says. It could be that eating with their families rather than in secret discourages eating disorder behaviours [sic], or that there is a 'carry-over effect' that helps kids make healthier food choices with their friends because of what they learn at home, she says, but no one really knows."
[Source: The Star Phoenix]

Researchers are also puzzled by the fact that positive effects of family dinners seem to be limited almost exclusively to girls. However, many pediatric health experts have long advocated on behalf of increased family involvement as a way of preventing a wide range of dangerous teen behaviors.

Labels: eating disorders, girls, prevention, family meals

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Teenage girls who smoke do not weigh less than those who abstain, according to a new study from the University of Montreal.

Dr. Jennifer O'Laughlin and her team tracked 1,293 teenagers for five years through a series of questionnaires. She said they were surprised at their own results, because they too had bought into the myth that smoking is a good way to control weight.

Labels: girls, smoking, heath

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A new study conducted through the University of Virginia has found that girls with ADHD are more likely than their non-ADHD counterparts to develop the bulimia-related behaviors of binge eating and purging.

"'Girls with ADHD may be more at risk of developing eating problems as adolescents because they already have impulsive behaviors that can set them apart from their peers,' [psychologist Amori Yee] Mikami said. 'As they get older, their impulsivity may make it difficult for them to maintain healthy eating and a healthy weight, resulting in self-consciousness about their body image and the binging and purging symptoms.'"

This is one of the few studies that have focused on ADHD's possible long-term effects on girls. Mikami, the study's lead author, warned parents and teachers to be watching for "female-relevant" issues that may be more prevalent in girls with ADHD. Read more at RedOrbit.com.

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Labels: risks, girls, adhd

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Though eating disorders affects both girls and boys, girls are about 10 times more likely to be affected. And studies show that the younger a girl is when she begins to "diet", the more likely she is to develop an eating disorder.

"It's not uncommon for parents to make crude remarks about weight to their young daughters (but rarely to their sons). This is extremely unwise. A University of Minnesota study suggests that girls with parents who make comments about their daughters' weight are more likely to become depressed and go on extreme diets."

Many point to the extreme social pressures placed on girls, to look a certain way and have a certain body type, as a main cause of eating disorders. But the disorders are complex and caused by many factors working together. If you suspect someone of having an eating disorder, talk to him or her right away. If left untreated, eating disorders can cause serious health problems and can even be life threatening.

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Labels: causes of eating disorders, girls, influences

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Since 2002, the number of teenagers with eating disorders as increased six-fold in Singapore. And, unfortunately, only 10 to 20 percent are actively seeking treatment.

Local psychologists feel that the alarming rise of teenage eating disorders is due to lack of confidence or control.

"Dr Evelyn Boon, Psychologist, Singapore General Hospital, said: 'One of the contributing factors could be that they feel bad about certain things. It could be what they can't control - their family, how they feel about themselves. So in order for them to feel better, they feel that they should control how they are looked at by other people. A lot of them have this misconception that being slim is popular. That's one of the more common things we've heard of. The other thing is if they're teased in school about being overweight, they go the other extreme.'"

Experts believe that Singapore girls have lower self-esteem and a higher level of insecurities about themselves than other Asian girls. Read more online.

Labels: teenagers, girls, psychology

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When most people hear the phrase “silent killer,” they think of hypertension or heart disease. But eating disorders can be silent killers, too, especially in teens who are determined to hide it.

“A recent study published by the University of Illinois suggests that normal and underweight teenage girls who believe that they are overweight are at a significantly higher risk of developing unhealthy weight loss behaviors.” [Source: Insiders Health]

This misperception is called “body distortion” and it’s more prevalent than many adults realize. A girl who’s convinced that she’s “fat” even though she’s not will continue trying to lose weight, even when she’s too thin. And, to the best of her ability, she’s going to hide her weight loss from her parents and other loved ones, so she can keep losing.

 

Labels: teenagers, symptoms, girls

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