Being a teenager can be tough, and sometimes teens who are healthy tiy to lose weight even though they don’t need to. You may feel a lot of pressure to look a certain way. Acting on this pressure may lead to eating disorders like anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.
Anorexia nervosa is a form of self-starvation where a person does not eat enough food to keep healthy and does not maintain a healthy weight.
Bulimia nervosa is when a person eats a lot of food and then vomits or uses other methods, such as fasting or
Over exercising, to avoid gaining weight after overeating.
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If you would like to learn more about eating disorders, see the list of resources at the end of this booklet.
If you are concerned about your eating habits or the way you look, it’s important to talk to someone you trust. Try talking to a parent, friend, doctor, teacher, or counselor at your school.
Being happy with who you are and what you look like is important for a healthy body and mind. You don’t have to be an athlete, supermodel, or movie star to like who you are and to stay fit and healthy.
You can take charge of your health by making small changes in your eating and physical activity habits. These changes will help you feel and look better now and be healthier for the rest of your life!