Healthy, Not Skinny

Recent research from the Mayo Clinic has shown that teen obese patients are at a significant risk for developing anorexia. Most people think of skin and bone models when they hear the word anorexia, but in reality many overweight or obese teens are struggling with this same disorder, and it often goes unrecognized and untreated. It seems contradictory to think that an obese patient could also be anorexic. Physicians are speaking with their overweight and obese patients about losing weight. Self-conscious patients may begin to develop unhealthy weight loss, restricting calories or food groups, therefore developing anorexia. When the weight is lost, it is acknowledged, but often times not discussed how the weight was lost. America is constantly focusing on “fat” and not enough emphasis is put on how to be healthy and lose weight in a healthy fashion.