Nutrition in Schools Advisory Service

Anorexia and Bulimia

Anorexia is the deliberate restriction of food intake in the pursuit of thinness. Bulimia may involve food restriction but also involves self induced vomiting and often laxative abuse.

While only a small proportion of, mostly girls, are diagnosed with anorexia it is of great concern that a much larger proportion of adolescent girls display disrupted eating behaviours in order to control weight gain. These may include:

• restricted eating and dieting
• over exercising
• self induced vomiting
• laxative and diuretic abuse

Schools have a role in educating adolescents, in particular, girls about these dangerous and undesirable habits.

Body Image

To help create positive body images teenage girls need education and reassurance about:

• normal, expected, healthy weight gain
• normal and desirable changes in body shape at adolescence
• increased appetite and the importance of a healthy balance diet for growth and development
• the importance of appropriate exercise and activity

For more information Nutrition Australia recommends:

• Eating the Pyramid Way for Women of All Ages
• Eating Disorders (booklet)
• Eating Activity Sport and You
• Healthy Food for Families