I am being serious. People blame anorexia and eating disorders in teens on the media, along with other various things. It seems that a lot of parents tend to be the quickest to blame the "media", why is it that they can't blame themselves for not being involved in their child's life?
135806
Unfortunately, in a world where beauty and popularity are valued above intelligence and ability the heroes of the young are the stars of sports and entertainment.  \n\nUnfortunately this carries over into the work place as well. People with physical defects, gray hair, or who are overweight (anything more than about 10 puonds) has a harder time finding a job. This is especially true in the professional world and in the higher levels of corporations.\n\nI agree with you that parents need to spend more time with their kids and encourage healthy behavior, which is one of the reasons that I an a homeschooling advocate.
70815
They do this in part because they are not mature enough to deal with the real world.  I'm not being critical of them. I have too many problems of my own.  These "kids" were not taught a great deal of personal responsibility as children.  That rests squarely on their parents shoulders. Now they are having children and have less chance of teaching their own children responsibility.  It will likely get worse before it gets better.  Some day maybe parents will step up to the plate.
616090
I belive that on-line predators are dangerous.  Here's my thought -during this time, most parents (both) have to work.  Therefore, young teen girls are often coming home alone.  When they are lonely - sometimes they are also "craving" love from someone - anyone.  These predators have a way to get to these kids minds -hit their week spots and get to them. It happens a LOT.  Now, as far as education about the subject, you are right.  The media is bringing this to people's attention - you know - teens and parents, for instance, who have NO CLUE what their kids are doing on line and the like.  To me this is also education.  These guys Dateline has had on have been elementary school teachers, married people with kids....on guy brought his kids with him.  The fact that there are SO MANY of them out there totally freaks me out.  I'm glad I don't have any young kids growing up anymore.  My son's children will be more educated about this stuff as they are educated about this stuff and won't let that happen with their children.  Remember, a lot of young girls are out there and no - they do not ALL have common sense about this stuff.
588473
Well what can I say??? Every single one of us has to go through that process.  When you are a teen, you are stuck between being a kid and an adult. The best choice is the mentality of being the grown up...The problem is that teens are still children in the eyes of the adults.  Then you get the rebellion stage in which every person has to go through...Perhaps, it is the thing that makes teens to share their ideas and their behavior....So, it is the grown ups' fault that teens are seen so homogenized as a bunch of children in soon to be adults bodies
505872
no i mean i have no pity for them, they choose to be overweight and they choose that lifestyle. any overweight person who trys to tell u different is just not living up to what theyre doing. they choose not to get treatment, exersize, and helping their diet. I get irritated when i see them passing that kind of lifestyle onto their child most definatly!
43614
Its an epidemic,and I think its directly related to the lack of moral guidance in the homes.In most homes both parents are working so kids come home to an empty house,many teens come from broken homes where either or both parents are non-existent.There needs to be an emphasis on raising teens with self-esteem and training in morality,if Kids new they were loved and got enough of it in the home in the first place,they wouldnt feel this much need to find it elsewhere.You can see this desperation evident in cases where young boys go after older women seeking to fulfill the emptiness for a mothers love,and vice versa for young girls,looking for Daddy in an older man.Its seriously sad,and something needs to be done about it.
592708
because in today's society no one accepts responsibility for there actions or for there kids actions. So they have to blame any one they can. And when they blame someone else it takes the blame off of them. sad isn't it
427468
They sometimes get teased by their friends for not being capable in doing physical exercise and simply just for being fat or for eating too much. But one needs to know which friend are just joking and which are being mean. Usually obesity are caused by doting parents who thinks that making their child obese means that they really care about their child. All kids cry for food as a toddler, but parents need to make their stand clear and be mindful of how much the child really needs to keep healthy and fit. So I guess, society should start at these parents first and then the children when they grow a little older and are more mindful about their surroundings
228473
Because society has taught (slowly)and accepted over the years that everything else made someone do something because of either someone else or something else. Never taking responsiblity for their own actions. I drive a school bus and have come across MANY,MANY mother's who refuse to accept that their child misbehaved in any way shape or form. You can tell them that their son/daughter threw a book, hit the other kid, tripped them etc, etc and you tell the Mom at the bus stop and they look you in the eye and say, "Well, the other kid must have done something for my child to hit, trip, push the other kid" OR, she/he is tired, was not feeling well etc.I would say 90% of the hundreds of different kids I have come across over the past years fall into the catagory of "it's not my fault" Then the other 10%, the parents will say " I don't care what reason you did that, it was wrong". So, with a good majority of kids being raised with "it's not my fault", they grown into adults, have children and wa-la, we have the Not My Fault Generation.
459093
I'm a high school teacher, and I think it would be interesting to look at eating disorders among high school athletes, particularly wrestlers.  There is tremendous pressure on these young men to maintain their weight and ranking.  There has been enough written and research regarding young women, but I think that school-sanctioned disordered eating patterns in wrestlers and football players needs to be investigated.
553972
I've noticed there are a lot of rash judgements made on here. I think most people that do that are trying to make up for their lack of authority in life (whether they're young or just generally feel inadequate). Possibly it is an accurate reflection of the world, possibly not. Don't let it get to you too much. Just focus on separating the wheat from the chaff. :)\n\nSorry to hear about your daughter and the challenges.
282842
I applaud all of you, a school is there to teach children not as another way of the nanny state interfering with the way we raise our children, I have a two (soon to be three) year old son and he will be starting reception school in september. I remember a few years ago the government wanted people to stop calling children winners and losers and instead use the term yet to achieve success in a bid to hep childrens self esteem. Has no one considered the effect of weighing classes of kids, possibly in front of other class pupils? and in any event what about the poor kids who have to take these letters home and the effect being told you're fat at such an early age may have on them, don't we have enough of a problem with eating disorders...
371936
huh, wow, tough one. you have to understand something, all kids suck. they are warped beyond explanation and judge based solely on what the media has implemented into their brains. if you are so conerned than do something about your weight. and another thing to think about...if your son really was ashamed he probably wouldn't let his friends see you
238082
I'm an oldest child too. We do get blamed most of the time. Welcome to life. Anyway, remember the advantages we do have that the others behind us do not. And even though we have a bunch of extra responsibility, it's because our parents not only need us, but count on and rely on us. It's all in how you look at it. That is what I have learned now that I am grown, and have 3 kids of my own. This is what I tell my eldest daughter. I think she has actually come to understand. And as far as you always being blamed.....remember guilty until PROVEN innocent. Gather evidence next time and confront the issue with proof!
373766
Heck YES, they can die! They need HeLp fast!!\n\nTo me, nothing but NOTHING is worth trying to "pretend" I'm (or my body) is _any_ way it's "truly" not!!\n\nIf I'm 15 lbs overweight, or my hair falls out sooner than I'd rather it would, or it turns from blond to grey sooner than I'd like -- SO WHAT?!! I'm still ME, Chuck.\n\nAnd if that's not good enough for you, I'll just pick up my tinker toys and go home where at least *I* love me. I don't need this competition crud, since it proves nothing. All competition does is feed the ego!! And if yours is hungry, a therapist is needed.  Besides.... I'm already smelling an "Inferiority Complex" or teenager or a woman under 35 yo.\n\nI just wish people would stop referring to bulimia as a "disease" unless a person wants to consider a self invoked line of 'thinking' as a "mental disease".
519687
Your tirade has some merit my friend. I don't think necessarily that people want our 'pity', but I do believe we have engaged and supported a society of people who have become lazy and unwilling to push it to the limit to ensure they are working, able to support their families and care for their young.  I teach 8th graders and I can't believe that I see in them the same attitudes you are speaking of.  They are getting this 'spoon feed me attitude' from their parents.  I have watched as a young man of 31 I know - who has been drugging for 8 years, go through one marriage, a relationship of 5 years and now is hooked up with a 2 time looser of a mother of two kids she does't even raise(fathers in jail) and has her pregnant with his child (maybe), It's the children I feel sorry for because they are probably going to be the ADHD/Bipolars in my class in the next 5-10 years.  Yes, personal responsibility and accountability has much to be counted in these cases.  All we can do is pray for them and hope that education and exposure to programs to help raise the level of self-esteem will help the next generation of people.
241796
I think you have a great attitude about all the vainity in the world. Unfortunantly others don't feel the same way. I believe everyone has a certain 'taste' and if people would take the time to get to know someone before judging them on their apperance the world would be much better off. I hope that my generation can influence that outlook on their kids so this doesn't get any worse. It's sad. Suicides, eating disorders, plastic surgery... all to obtain what we all think is perfection when in all reality we all percieve beauty differently!