Eating Disorders – How To Prevent Them

In this article in our continuing series on eating disorders
we’re going to concentrate on how to prevent an eating disorder
from ever starting in the first place
There are a number of things someone can do to see that they
never fall into the trap of dealing with an eating disorder
The most important thing a person can do is get educated Learn
everything there is to know about Anorexia, Bulimia, and binge
eating disorders Awareness of these diseases will help you make
informed decisions about what constitutes proper food intake and
what your body should look like for your height and bone
structure
Get the idea out of your head that diet and the way your body
will ultimate look will lead to happiness There is more to
being happy than just looks This helps build self esteem
Challenge the ideas that weight loss and being thin are great
and anything to do with fat is a bad thing Naturally you don’t
want to eat to the point of obesity But you do want to strike a
balance between the two
Try not to categorize foods as being either good or bad,
fattening or slimming Try to remember that we need a balanced
diet in our lives
Don’t judge others and yourself by their appearance of being
either fat or thin It’s what’s inside a person that counts
Look beyond the physical appearance
Try to avoid the feeling that people will like you better if you
lose weight Remember that your friends are your friends and
will like you no matter what you look like
Become critical of the media and their messages that in order to
be popular you need to be thin If you see one of these ads,
yell back at the TV If you see one of these ads in print, write
to the editor Don’t let the media beat you
If you think someone has an eating disorder confront them in a
personal caring manner Show them your concern without being
judgmental Offer them support as someone they can speak to
Most of all, be a model of self esteem and body image Carry
yourself in such a way that others will notice and respect you,
regardless of how heavy or thin you may or may not be Talk
about yourself with confidence in a manner that commands respect
and appreciation Value yourself based on your goals, what
you’ve achieved, your talents and your character Avoid the way
you feel about your body weight becoming the main focus and the
ruler of your day Realize that everyone has a different body
and shape and regardless of that shape everyone has value, not
based on their looks
Finally, support local organizations and non profit eating
disorder associations by making donations or volunteering your
time Your donations may someday lead to a cure for these type
of illnesses
Hopefully, by doing all of the above, you can prevent someone
you care about, especially yourself, from falling victim to one
of these terrible diseases

Tags | anorexia, balanced, bulimia, decisions, disorder, disorders, esteem, informed, intake, obesity, structure, weight