How to Prevent Anorexia

Anorexia is one of the most common eating disorders amongst teenagers these days. It is a very confusing time for them and self worth is made up entirely of what other people think of you. The fact is that teenagers in high peer pressure situations need to have enough guidance to keep their head on their shoulders. The most important thing you can do to prevent anorexia is to help the teen see a world outside the small cliquish groups of people who they go to school with.

When you have teens at risk of having anorexia it is important to make food a good thing in your house. Food is something to be celebrated and enjoyed. Watch how you talk about food around your children especially when you talk about this type of food will make you fat etc. Don't skip meals or complain about the quality of the food health wise. Don't buy diet food either except for maybe soda. Keep in mind that this might also require you to gain a couple of pounds in the process but that it is worth it to save your child from the torment of anorexia.

The importance of the above attitude with food is to bring food into focus not as a bad harmful thing but a necessary pleasant part of life. The true heart of preventing anorexia is actually addressing the body image issues that come bound with anorexic teenagers.

This comes down to a social issue more than anything. For instance, today's ideal woman is actually uncomfortable skinny compared to the rest of the population. With this type of ideal trying to enforce itself in your children it is hard for them to take you seriously when you say they look fine or that they are getting to small.

That's why it is important to empathize goals that have less to do with physical properties and more to do with hard work and discipline. It is a good idea to empathize your child joining the debate team instead of the gymnastics squad for example. The idea is for the individual to develop self worth outside of what the scale might say.

Remember that if it is too late to prevent anorexia fro your child you have to take him/her to a medical professional that specializes in treating anorexics. If that is not the case simply take time to enjoy meals with your family making the most out of your time together and producing healthy habits.

Sources:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/anorexia/DS00606 , mayoclinic ,mayoclinic.