Health- Body Issues

Every girl wants to look good, but some girls take it to the extreme trying to be like Barbie dolls! Others just feel overcome with stress...

Most girls try to solve their body image issues or stress issues by being anorexic, bulimic or engaging in binge-eating.

Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder where people refuse to maintain their normal healthy body weight by refusing to eat or eating very small amounts of food. Such people are afraid of gaining weight. Anorexia can lead to medical complications that can be cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrinal, gastrointestinal, and even dental problems. Anorexics also experience fatigue and low body temperature. So next time you feel you want to look like a Barbie doll…

Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder where people take large amount of food for fear of weight gain they engage in various purging techniques. Such people induce vomiting, use laxatives or diuretics. Bulimics have various renal, gastrointestinal and dental problems. They abuse laxatives and have electrolyte abnormalities.

Binge-eating disorder on the other hand is a situation where one eats at several times a day without planning meals. Binge-eaters eat large amount of food due to stress, anxiety or depression. Women are reported to engage in binge-eating due to anxiety, depression, frustration or anger. Binge eating can lead to obesity, and obese binge eaters have mood and anxiety disorders and also psychosexual dysfunctions.

LOVING YOUR BODY

Your body image is how you see yourself and how you feel others see you. It’s a psychological thing because you tend to feel that way about yourself due to the stereotypes of the “right” body type or what you or see on TV. If everybody was a skinny actress, life wouldn’t be fun! It’s time for you to LOVE who you are!!!

STEPS TO MAINTAINING A GOOD BODY IMAGE

Accept yourself: the media has a way of making people look better than they actually do- a lot of good lighting, make-up, tailored clothes to fit and airbrushing. It’s not real! For goodness sake there are about 6 billion people on planet earth and no one is like you. You are special!!!

A Healthy body comes in all shapes and sizes. Focus on your good qualities, and if there is anything you can realistically and naturally change like your weight, then enrol in a gym, but anything you know you can’t then LOVE IT!

Never pick parts of your body to criticize always remember that it’s the whole person people see and not just your nose or your stomach.

Make a list of all the positive things about you and keep it where you can see it.

Become more physically active: engage in some kind of sport, or exercise routine. It would keep you fit and healthy.

Eat: food isn’t the enemy, eating healthy and regularly will actually help with weight loss once you are in control of your eating habits. Stay away from junk food and eat more fruits and vegetables when you feel hungry between meals.

Find useful things to do: there is more to talk about than how many pounds you have put on. Do something you enjoy instead. You can spend your time reading, doing some charity work, engaging in exercise, or doing anything useful; so you don’t waste hours thinking and even talking about your body.

Always look good: when you take care of your skin and wear clothes that suit your body type, you feel more comfortable with your body and learn to LOVE it. Start by going to your closet and giving away clothes that don’t fit your body type.