In spite of the devastating health consequences resulting from eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia, young women continue to support anorexic behavior in order to lose weight quickly. A recent article in Newsweek magazine uncovers the rise of “pro-ana” groups on social networking sites like Facebook. 

In the article, Stanford professor Rebecka Peebles, M.D. cites a 2006 study that she cowrote which found “that 96 percent of teens diagnosed with eating disorders who visited pro-eating disorder Web sites learned new dieting and purging techniques, and almost 50 percent of teens who visited sites ostensibly devoted to eating disorder recovery also learned new weight-loss tips.”

For those of us striving to minister to those with this disease, we have certainly found another red flag that we must look for.

Q&A: What do you think the appeal is for those joining “pro-ana” sites or groups?
Q&A: If you discovered that one of your girls was a part of a pro-ana group, how would you respond?

USA Today ran an article this week with statistics revealing that teen pregnancies are on the rise in 26 states. A portion of the article reads as follows:

“To see 26 states with statistically significant increases is fairly remarkable,” says Paul Sutton, a demographer with the National Center for Health Statistics, which released the data Wednesday. “We’re seeing increases in both the number of teens having births and also the rate at which they are having births. Both of them are going up.”

This is certainly a devastating trend for those of us who try to impart the value of abstinence outside of marriage. So what do we think is causing this rising trend? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

While most of us are still trying to wrap our minds around the concept of cutting, some self-mutilators are taking their addiction to a new level. 

A Fox News article released today reveals that “some troubled teens are embedding nails, paper clips, bits of rock, glass and even crayons in their bodies as a way to cope with disturbing thoughts and feelings…” 

According to Dr. William Shiels who conducted the study, “It’s cutting gone to the next level.”

Q&A: 
* Have you seen any cases of self-embedding within your ministry?
* How does this information impact you?

A recent study revealed that 1 in 5 young adults has a personality disorder or mental health issue that interferes with their daily life. Sadly, less than 25% of college-age individuals seek treatment. 

Translation: we have lots of young people sitting in our churches and our communities who need help. 

Q&A:
* Do you think these statistics accurately reflect the needs at your church?
* Why do you think so few choose to seek out help?
* How can we as the body of Christ positively impact the lives of those with personality disorders/mental health issues?

If you haven’t heard about the Twilight book series by Stephanie Meyer, then you’re about to be introduced to it through the eyes of Hollywood. The film based on the series’ first novel premieres this weekend with fanfare similar to that given to Harry Potter. 

The book and film chronicle the development of a love affair between a vampire named Edward and a teenage girl named Bella. The unlikely romance has captured the hearts of millions of teenage girls, and those numbers will undoubtedly continue to rise after the movie’s release.

Q&A:
Have you read any of the Twilight series of novels? If so, what is your opinion of the books?
Why do you think girls are so drawn to Edward and Bella’s relationship? 

Health officials at the Eating Disorders Foundation in Australia are deeply concerned by the rising frequency of calls they are receiving from the family and friends of boys. Although anorexia and bulimia have never been completely isolated within females, it has been predominantly a “girl issue.” 

With obesity on the rise in both America and Australia, it seems that boys are becoming more and more self-conscious about their appearances. Teasing and ridicule from peers is prompting many to resort to the extreme actions of bingeing and purging. 

The gender lines have been crossed, a frightening thought for all of us working with teens.

(Posted by Merritt)

Last weekend SAGE Ministries hosted the 4th annual Outfit Girls Ministry Training Conference in Arlington, Texas. We had over 60 women in attendance from six different states, all with one common vision and passion – to grow in our efforts to reach, teach, and train the young women of this generation. 

It was an incredible weekend of networking, fellowship, worship, and training. We can hardly wait until next year, so get out those pens and mark your calendars for October 2-3, 2009.

A recent study reveals that the prevalence of eating disorders among preteens is on the rise, with most of the children in the study being diagnosed by age 11. 

I find this especially disturbing given the amount of physical development that should occur during these critical times in an adolescent’s life. With children starving themselves and depriving their bodies of valuable nutrients, we are faced with an immeasurable amount of physical damage, not to mention the psychological ramifications.

Why do you think eating disorders are affecting children at earlier ages?

(Posted by Merritt)

According to a recent study, the prevalence of eating disorders can be partially attributed to “social contagion.” 

The study revealed, “Severe food intake restriction, dieting, exercising and diet pill use all showed clustering by county, as did any weight control symptom overall or any eating disorder symptom.” 

So there is undeniably a link to peer pressure as it relates to eating disorders and body image. The question for us continues to revolve around our ability to teach girls the value of an identity not based on peer opinion or media influence.

(Posted by Merritt)

The New York Times ran an article earlier this month entitled “A One-Eyed Invader in the Bedroom” addressing the ramifications of children having televisions in their bedrooms.


 
The article references one study of third graders, which concluded that a whopping 70% of those surveyed had a television in their room. The author goes on to raise questions about the harmful effects of this phenomenon, which include increased obesity, lower test scores, and more prevalent sleep problems.  

While I find those issues disconcerting, I am not as concerned with the amount of television being watched as I am with the content being watched without any supervision. Within recent months, I have had several conversations with girls who are struggling or have struggled with pornography. With a TV available at all times and the privacy of viewing it in their own rooms, girls have a world of illicit material available to them. 

What used to be seen as a harmless piece of entertainment that could at worst lead to a little couch potato-itis has moved to a whole new level of destruction. It can now open Pandora’s Box of inappropriate images for a new generation of impressionable kids. 


So what do you think? Is it harmless or harmful to have a TV in virtually every bedroom in America?(posted by Merritt)