What are the causes of increased eating disorders and obesity for teens?
Technically, we don’t know, although some of the contributory causes seem pretty obvious. • Increased exposure to TV commercials Children are exposed to more commercials for junk food and more ‘super-thin’ images and characters. They are being encouraged to eat high fat food and be thin – both at the same time! • Glossy magazines still utilize abnormally thin fashion models The message is clear: “thin is beautiful”. • Lack of parental control, guidance and example When Mom and Dad are fat and/or constantly dieting or using laxatives, diet pills and so on, it’s difficult for teens to avoid copying their parents bad eating and dieting habits. • Affluence and family fragmentation More Moms and Dads are working. More kids eat and/or watch TV in their own rooms. More kids go away to college. These factors only serve to diminish parental control over their kids eating habits. They may even weaken relationships between parent and child and may indirectly lead to increased psychological stress
