Weight Watching
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Around 10% of teenage girls are “terrified” of putting on weight! It really comes as a shock because girls that age should be worrying about their homework or what film they are going to watch when they get home, not worrying about their weight, God thirteen year old are still very young and shouldn’t have to deal with this sort of pressure!
Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are starting younger and younger and this may be the case because of pressures from media and being bullied, although this is not always the case. It has become a big concern for parents.
The research was carried out by the University College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. One of the researchers said she was surprised children were so concerned about their weight at such a young age.
And with this study being the only one of its kind, the researchers don’t know if the problem is getting better or worse!
The researchers interviewed 7,082 parents of 13 year old school children and the study showed:
• Nearly 12% of girls and 5% of boys were “terrified” by the thought of getting fat
• 52% of girls and a third of boys said they were “a little worried” about getting fat
• One in three girls and one in five boys were “distressed” by their body shape
• 26% of girls and 15% of boys had experienced “eating disorder behaviour” such as fasting
So kids, put down you carrot sticks and start living life!