Do you think that society is causing more young girls to become anorexic?
By sevvie
@sevvie (15)
United States
February 6, 2007 4:39am CST
I was hanging out with my 9 year old niece the other day, and I couldn't help but notice how self conscious she is about her weight. I'm on the slim side, and she kept looking at me to see what she should do next. If I stopped eating, so would she, although she was clearly still hungry. She was also very upset when she tried to borrow one of my shirts and it didn't fit her.
I also saw this topic being brought up on the Tyra Banks show. She was interviewing very young (and slim) girls (9-13) about their weight and how they saw themselves. The answers they gave were shocking, and I couldn't believe that these kids would be worrying about their weight at such a young age.
Do you think that society is causing these kids to be self conscious about their bodies at such a young age? Or do you think it has more to do with their family lives?
2 responses
@glockgal (4)
• Canada
7 Feb 07
It makes me so sad to know and see so many young girls feeling the same way your neice does, as such a young age.
I could blame society until the cows come home, but I think ultimately the responsiblity lies with the family. Not only to instill in their children self-confidence and the ability to differentiate between reality and fantasy; but also to give their children proper nutrition and exercise.
Because when they hit puberty, those subconscious morals and lifestyle choices are the only things they'll have to defend themselves *against* society.
Your poor neice. To feel that way at such a young age...it's so upsetting. :/
1 person likes this
@sevvie (15)
• United States
7 Feb 07
I feel so bad for her, because her sister is as thin as a rail. She is always comparing herself to people around her, and I totally agree that her parents should be teaching her how to change how she feels about herself. She doesn't have to be overweight, and I hope that she'll learn that before she gets into high school and the real trouble starts.
Thanks for your response. :)
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
8 Feb 07
I agree. And it's not just having a thin family, but how they talk about weight and how they view it.
My mom was never thin when I was growing up. She used to be, but wasn't when she had me. Everything was about how fat she was or how she used to weigh barely 100 pounds, and how she loved Twiggy, etc. If she had been thin and healthy and didn't talk about weight, I probably wouldn't have thought much about it.
It's not like I care about my appearance much. I just wanted to do one thing that was important to her: be thin.
1 person likes this
@sevvie (15)
• United States
8 Feb 07
That's exactly how my mom was with me. My mom gained a lot of weight when she became pregnant with me, and all she could talk about from then on was how skinny she used to be and what diets she should try out. It gave me the impression that fat was ugly, and to be anything other than skinny was bad.
My dad didn't really help out either. When I weighed 105, he told me that I was beginning to look a little chubby. Since then, I haven't gone over 103. I don't think I'm anorexic, because I definitely don't starve myself or over exercise, but I know I don't have a healthy body image. I was just hoping my niece wouldn't have to go through the same thing. :(
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
8 Feb 07
I think a large part of it is society. And also your family.
My family is always talking about weight. It's really no surprise that no my 9 year old cousin is in treatment for anorexia. With all the talk she hears all the time from my stick figure aunt, it was really rather expected, at least to me.
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