Please note that this is an Archived article and may contain content that is out of date. The use of she/her/hers pronouns in some articles is not intended to be exclusionary. Eating disorders can affect people of all genders, ages, races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, body shapes, and weights.
By Quinn Nystrom
I’ll never forget when I started resenting my body. I was sitting in the figure skating locker room, surrounded by high school girls, and comparing my body to them. Figure skaters had a specific look, and God gave me a different one. I had just turned 11. I still got scared of thunderstorms and loved my American Girl Dolls. But I was now obsessing over how to get my body to look like others. The innocence of childhood was evaporating. I wanted to be like the older girls, the cool girls. I wanted so desperately to fit in, blend in. I started putting myself on diets that seemed innocent, not knowing the battle that was ahead for me.
Recent research that came out this year showed that nearly 10% of teens worldwide have used ineffective and potentially harmful weight-loss products. It showed an even higher incidence of this in girls in North America. After reviewing dozens of studies from the past 40 years, the researchers estimated that 9% of youth had used an over-the-counter weight loss product (diet pills, laxatives, diuretics, etc.) and that about half of them were actively using.
Tips for loved ones whose teen may be struggling:
1. Actively listen to them. I tend to want to jump in when a young person is telling me that they feel ugly or they feel fat. But I have to resist that and listen. Don’t get into a back-and-forth trying to convince them of these feelings. The truth is, these are their feelings, which are very real to them. Saying, “But you’re blank or so beautiful,” will not help.
2. Let them know you may not understand but that you’re a safe and loving person to confide in. Most teens have an awareness that these products aren’t widely accepted, so they may be tentative to tell an adult about their behaviors and/or recent purchases of these types of products.
3. Ask them how you can best support them. They may say they don’t know, and that’s ok. You could also list suggestions such as listening, assisting in finding a psychologist, how they would like you to check in/follow up, and how you could do better with words and actions that they may find triggering (do you talk about your or other’s physical appearance, do you do a lot of food talk, etc.?).
Tips for the young person struggling:
1. Know that it’s ok to reach out for help. If you’re unsure where you should even go or feel timid to talk to someone you know, utilize the Crisis Line. Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a volunteer Crisis Counselor for Free, confidential, 24/7 support at your fingertips.
2. Create a self-care box and leave it in your room, or pack a mini one for your backpack. Put things in here that help you relax and distract you. Examples include a journal, art supplies, a list of songs you could listen to, a fidget spinner, and your favorite lotion.
3. Know who’s on your advisory committee and go to them when you’re struggling or need to discuss something. My therapist recently told me about this, which was my first. She said your advisory committee is your closest circle of people you trust and respect who have never led you wrong. On my “committee” are my husband, cousin, childhood best friend, therapist, and sponsor.
The research is staggering with how many teens today are using these dangerous diet products. Let’s all work together to support our younger generation with support growing up in a diet-obsessed culture that puts so much emphasis on physical appearance. It took me a long time to realize that my eating disorder thought I looked horrible at all sizes. Looking back I see it wasn’t about the number on the scale, but a distorted way of thinking I needed help with.
