Eating Disorders Affecting Adolescents

Introduction:

Mental illnesses affect hundreds of teens throughout the United States. Eating disorders are among the mental disorders that affect adolescents. The public school system claims that student’s health is an essential part of student success, but do not offer the resources to meet specific demands. School staff is responsible for a high number of students and do not have the time to focus on each individual’s personal needs, especially when it comes to an eating disorder. Implementing a Healthy Teens program in schools would provide adolescents with the resources they need to improve their health and social well-being.

Statement of Purpose:

1. Why do eating disorders matter?

2. What is a Healthy Teens program?

3. How does a Healthy

Although eating disorders affect people of all ages, adolescents are significantly impacted by this disorder (Teenage Eating Disorders, 2015). A study showed that three percent of adolescents in the United States are affected by an eating disorder, but most do not receive any form of treatment for their condition (Swanson, Crow, Grange, Swendsen, & Merikangas, 2011). Adolescents are not given the resources or support to deal with eating disorders. Despite a parent’s option to take their child to a clinic, adolescents are not always comfortable speaking with parents. It is evident that adolescents need help to deal with these disorders. Schools should provide adolescents a place where they can receive help and improve their overall health. A student’s health is a necessary part of student success and should be deemed important. It is essential that schools incorporate a Healthy Teens program. The change is necessary to help increase health and wellness, thus resulting in a better future for

Throughout adolescence, an adolescent’s body will change and undergo physical changes. Physical body changes can make adolescents self-conscious about their bodies thus leading to an eating disorder (American Federation of Teachers). Statistics show that ninety-five percent of individuals with eating disorders are between the ages of twelve and twenty-five (South Carolina Department of Mental Health). Eating disorders are occurring during adolescence, a difficult time in an individual’s life. Adolescence and young adulthood is a time where individuals try to identify who they are and who they want to become. During this time, adolescents are dealing with the changes of puberty, social pressures, and school. These eating disorders can affect an adolescent’s performance because of nutrition and mental health issue (American Federation of Teachers). According to the American Federation of Teachers, students who suffer from eating disorders have problems with concentration, memory, and information processing. Adolescents will also become irritable, socially withdrawn, experience fatigue, and develop a weak immune system due to poor nutrition (American Federation of Teachers). All of these factors significantly impact a student’s