We’ve all heard that “it’s what’s on the inside that counts,” right? But let’s face it, as soon as you switch on[接通] the TV or flip through[草草翻阅] a magazine, you’re hit with images of models and celebs[名人] whose lives seem as perfect as their looks. Everywhere you turn, the message seems to be that a thin body can be the answer to all of your problems.
　　Sometimes, these thoughts about body image can get pretty serious...so much that some people
　　develop an “eating disorder.” Eating disorders are very
　　dangerous and can damage someone’s health.
　　Eating disorders like anorexia[厌食症], bulimia[易饿症], and
　　binge-eating[暴食] disorder affect over five million people! The more you know about these illnesses will make you better able to help yourself and people you love.
　　
　　Jessica’s Anorexia
　　
　　Jessica is one of the smartest kids in the sixth grade. One day at a family reunion, Jessica’s aunt says something about “baby fat.” Jessica knows her aunt is just teasing[取笑], but that comment[意见] sticks with her. She decides to go on a diet. At first, she cuts back on sweets and starts using her dad’s treadmill[踏车] after school. The pounds start coming off and people notice. They ask her if she’s on a diet, and sometimes they even tell her that she looks great! Pretty soon, Jessica is weighing herself every morning and every night. She eats less and less, records every calorie[卡路里（计算热量的单位）] and fat gram in her diet journal, and even hangs pictures of models on her wall for inspiration[鼓舞].
　　But Jessica is also starting to feel annoyed[使烦恼]
　　all the time. She turns down party invitations because she doesn’t want to be tempted[诱惑] by snack food. She feels dizzy[晕眩的] and cold, and can’t concentrate[集中] on
　　anything but her diet and exercise. Even though the
　　numbers say she’s lost weight, Jessica doesn’t see it when she looks in the mirror. All she can see is that baby fat.
　　Jessica has anorexia nervosa[神经性厌食症], usually just called “anorexia.” People with anorexia starve
　　themselves. Jessica’s eating disorder really isn’t about food at all. She tries hard to be the best at everything. She doesn’t know how to handle criticism or teasing. Her aunt
　　probably had no idea that her
　　comment made Jessica feel like a big failure. Instead of
　　confronting[使……面对、正视]
　　her aunt or talking
　　to her parents about the situation, Jessica takes it all on[承担（责任等）] herself. She thinks that a diet is a way to take control of the
　　situation, but before long the
　　situation has taken control of her.
　　
　　 Stephen’s Problem
　　
　　Mike totally looks up
　　to[尊敬] his older brother Stephen.
　　Stephen is in high school and is the star varsity[（学校）体育代表队]
　　wrestler. Mike goes to every match to cheer his brother on from the blea-
　　chers[露天看台].
　　Sometimes Stephen invites him to go out to eat with the rest of the team after a big match. Mike notices that Stephen eats A LOT at these meals. When Mike asks him about it, Stephen explains that because there are weight requirements for his team, he has to starve himself for a few days before each match, and exercise like crazy to sweat out the calories. By the time the match is over, he’s
　　ready for a pig-out. He says lots of his teammates do it too, and it’s no big deal.
　　Mike respects his brother’s dedication[奉献], but he also worries that this behavior is dangerous. He remembers reading about three college wrestlers who died from kidney[肾] failure and heart problems because they were trying to lose too much weight too quickly. Mike’s heard of eating disorders before, but he’s confused[困惑的]. Aren’t eating disorders for girls? His brother is a strong athlete. Could he actually have a problem?
　　Mike is right to be worried about his brother. Even though eating disorders are usually associated with girls, the truth is these illnesses affect girls and boys. Athletes like Stephen are at a greater risk, because their sport requires them to be a
　　certain weight. Stephen’s cycle of starvation, over-exercise, and binging are putting a strain[压力，负担] on his body that could have deadly results.
　　
　　How to Get Help
　　
　　Eating disorders are complicated[复杂的] illnesses, but they can be treated. Most people with eating disorders are afraid to reach out and admit that they have a problem. They might be ashamed or convinced[深信的] that they can handle the
　　situation by themselves. But without professional help,
　　eating disorders will get worse.
　　If you feel your eating habits are out of
　　control, you must get help. Talk to any trusted adult: a school counselor[顾问], doctor, family
　　member…anyone. If you don’t feel comfortable
　　reaching out to an adult, try talking to a friend first.
　　
　　Fun, Food and Fitness
　　
　　With all this talk about dangerous eating
　　disorders, it’s important to remember that eating and exercise can be a fun part of all of our lives. The sooner you develop a positive[积极的] attitude towards them, the more likely it is that you’ll feel good about your body.
　　● Eat for the right reasons. Food
　　nourishes[滋养] the body and spirit. But when food becomes a replacement for something, like love or friendship, or if we see it as an
　　enemy that’s keeping us from looking the way we want to, that’s when problems start. Here’s
　　a good first step to developing a healthy
　　relationship with food: if you automa-
　　tically[自动地] reach for your favorite snack every time you feel depressed or angry, think about other ways to make yourself feel better. You could take a walk, write in your journal, call up a friend - or just punch[用拳头猛击] your pillow as hard as you can.
　　● Get Moving. Exercise builds muscles and confidence[信心]. The trouble starts when you’re
　　exercising not to feel good, but to reach a number on the scale[秤]. That takes all the fun out of it. Whether you’re a born athlete or a
　　total klutz[笨手笨脚的人], there’s an activity out there for you. Find something - a sport, or just riding
　　your bike - that you enjoy doing, and that makes you feel strong and ALIVE!
　　● Talk to an adult. If you need help, the best thing you can do is talk to your doctor about it. There are also nutritionists[营养学家] who
　　specialize[专门研究] in developing healthy meal plans for young people.
　　
　　我们都听说过“内在美才是真的美”，对不对？但让我们面对事实吧，只要打开电视机或翻开某本杂志，你就会受到来自模特和明星形象的冲击——他们的生活看起来和他们的外表一样完美。无论你走到哪里，世界似乎向你传递这样一条信息：纤瘦的身材可以让所有问题迎刃而解。
　　有时候，这些有关身材的想法会变得很严重，以致有部分人会产生“进食障碍”。进食障碍很危险，会损害健康。受厌食症、易饿症和暴食症等进食障碍疾病影响的人超过五百万！对这些病了解得越多，你就越能更好地帮助自己和你爱的人。
　　
　　杰西卡的厌食症
　　
　　杰西卡是六年级里最聪明的学生之一。一天在家庭聚会上，杰西卡的阿姨说了些类似“婴儿肥”的话。杰西卡知道阿姨只是开玩笑，但她对这个评价耿耿于怀。于是她决定节食。起初，她减少吃甜食，放学后用爸爸的踏车进行锻炼。她的体重开始下降，大家也注意到了。他们问她是不是在节食，有时甚至对她说她看起来很棒！很快，杰西卡每天早上和晚上都要称体重。她吃得越来越少，在减肥日记里记下每一卡路里和每一克脂肪，甚至在墙上挂上模特的照片激励自己。
　　但与此同时，杰西卡开始经常感到烦躁。她拒绝派对邀请，因为她不想受到零食的诱惑。她感到头晕眼花，全身发冷，除了节食和锻炼以外就再也集中不了精神。虽然（秤上的）数字显示体重减轻了，但当杰西卡照镜子时一点儿也不觉得自己瘦了。她看到的只有那婴儿肥。
　　杰西卡患上了神经性厌食症，通常简称为“厌食症”。得了厌食症的人会让自己挨饿。杰西卡的进食障碍其实与食物没有一点关系。她只是竭力想把所有事都做到最好，却不懂得如何应对批评或嘲笑。她的阿姨或许不知道自己的评价会让杰西卡大受打击。杰西卡没有当面和阿姨说清楚，也没有跟父母商量，而是独自承担所有问题。她以为节食能控制这个情况，但没过多久，事态却发展到她无法控制的地步。
　　
　　斯蒂芬的问题
　　
　　迈克很崇拜哥哥斯蒂芬。斯蒂芬是一名高中生，也是学校代表队里的明星摔跤手。哥哥的每场比赛迈克都会坐在观众席上为哥哥助威呐喊。有时，一场大赛之后，斯蒂芬会叫上迈克和其余队员一起出去吃饭。迈克留意到斯蒂芬在这些饭局上吃很多东西。当迈克问及此事时，斯蒂芬解释说由于队里有体重要求，他必须在每场比赛前饿上几天，发了疯似地锻炼，消耗掉那些卡路里。等到比赛结束，他就准备好去大吃大喝一顿。他说很多队友都这样，没什么大不了的。
　　迈克尊重哥哥的忘我精神，但同时也很担心这种行为的危险性。他记得看过报导说三名大学摔跤手由于想在短时间内减掉过多体重而引发肾衰竭和心脏问题，最终死亡。迈克以前听说过进食障碍，但让他困惑的是——进食障碍不是女孩子的事吗？他的哥哥可是一名强壮的运动员，他真的有问题吗？
　　迈克担心他的哥哥是对的。虽然进食障碍一般让人们联想到女孩，但事实上，这些疾病对女生和男生都会造成影响。像斯蒂芬这样的运动员危险更大，因为他们进行的运动对体重有一定要求。斯蒂芬挨饿、过度训练、而后暴饮暴食的循环会对其身体造成很大负担，最终可能产生致命的后果。
　　
　　如何得到帮助
　　
　　尽管进食障碍病理复杂，但它们是可以治疗的。大多数进食障碍患者不敢向别人求助，不承认自己有问题。他们也许是感到羞愧，也许是深信自己能够独力应付。然而没有专业人士的帮助，进食障碍只会越来越严重。
　　如果你感到自己的饮食习惯失控，就必须寻求帮助。跟你信任的大人说说你的情况：学校顾问、医生、家人……任何一个。如果你觉得向大人求助不自在，就先跟朋友谈谈。
　　
　　乐趣、食物和健康
　　
　　谈了这么多有关进食障碍的危险性之后，我们有必要记住：进食和锻炼可以是生活中十分有趣的一部分。你越早对它们形成积极的态度，那你对身体的感觉就会越好。
　　● 正确饮食。食物滋养我们的身心。但当食物成为某种东西（如爱情或友情）的替代品，或当我们把它当作阻止我们达到理想身材的大敌时，问题就会产生。这里提供让你和食物建立良好关系的第一步：如果你每次感到心情压抑或生气的时候都会不自觉地伸手去拿喜欢的零食，想想其它能让心情变好的方法——你可以散散步，写写日记，给朋友打电话，或者使劲儿打枕头出气。
　　● 动起来。体育锻炼使肌肉强壮，自信加倍。但当你不是为了健康，而是为了达到秤上的某个数字才进行锻炼，问题就来了，锻炼的乐趣也会随之消失。不管你是天生的运动员还是笨手笨脚的家伙，总有一项活动适合你。找一样你喜欢的事情——一项体育运动，或者只是骑自行车——让你强壮、有活力！
　　● 找大人聊天。如果你需要帮助，最好的方法是和你的医生谈谈。现在还有专门为年轻人制订健康饮食计划的营养学家。