Factors like making new friends, moving away from home, and a new sense of independence and freedom combined with confusion and fear contribute to eating disorders (Gotlieb, 2000). Hence, having to take care of their own meals requires a time adjustment and since media has depicted it is good to reduce weight, it comes as a good opportunity for them not to eat (Francis, 1995). It is healthy for the young women to watch whatever they eat and the way they exercise.
If Anorexia problem is not treated, they will face long term complications such as stomach problems, hearth problems, irregular or no periods and fine hair all over the body including the face (Gaesser, 1996). If Bulimia is not treated in advance, it can cause stomach problems, hearth problems, kidney problems, dental problems, (as a result of throwing up of stomach acid) and it can also cause dehydration since the body might have less water (Gaesser, 1996).
Eating disorders among young women especially the adolescents can be treated (Gaesser, 1996). Anorexia can be treated if it is detected at an early age. The first step will be getting one back to his/her normal weight. If malnourished or very thin, one may be admitted in hospital that is, incase he/she is very weak (Nitcher, 2000). This period of hospitalization will help one to be back to her normal weight.
Her doctor will probably want her to see dietician so that she can direct or give her information on different types of healthy foods that she can eat at regular times to improve her health. For Anorexia and Bulimia, family and individual counseling can help one overcome it (Nitcher, 2000).
There are two types of therapies that can assist one to overcome eating disorders. These are Family Based therapies and Self therapies (Nitcher, 2000). In a family based therapy, one gets to interact with other people in the community. The family members are made to understand that it is the disease that causes the victim to have the strange habits; hence they give this person a sense of acceptance and love (Francis, 1995). This intervention method is used to treat eating disorders since when one is accepted, she will tend not to focus on her problem thus giving her a faster rate of recovery.
On the other hand, the self-based therapy is whereby one is made to realize that she is the cause of the problem (Nitcher, 2000). This method is less efficient than the family based therapy since it does not enable the victim to understand that the underlying problem is not with her but with the disease itself (Gaesser, 1996). Parents can limit their teen daughter from these types of advertisements.
This does not mean that they take away teen magazines, but to make them be aware of the magazines that they are using. Start advertising awareness programmes in girls’ schools can also help curb or treat this disease. Teenage girls need to be taught about the risks of being too thin.