Body Image.

Eating Disorders: Characterized by severe disturbances in eating habits (such as overeating, skipping meals, not eating for an extended period of time, etc…) Many people associate eating disorders with teenage girls or women, but a significant number of men suffer from eating disorders as well.

Anorexia: The loss of appetite or the refusal to eat in the attempt to lose weight.

Osteoporosis: A disorder where your bones become brittle and riddled with holes. While osteoporosis is closely linked to calcium deficiency, anorexia greatly contributes to the likelihood of a person having the disorder. It can lead to severe pain, shrinking a few inches, and other skeletal deformities.

Bulimia: A disorder characterized by binge eating followed by tremendous guilt and/or depression and self-induced vomiting.

Fitness: The ability to maintain hard exercise such as running for a significant period of time. If you can’t run for at least 5 minutes, you’re probably not very fit.

Anabolic Steroids: Performance enhancing drugs related to the male hormone, testosterone. They increase protein synthesis within the cells, especially in muscles, causing them to grow significantly. Many bodybuilders use steroids to gain muscle quickly, but they are barred from all major professional sports.

Creatine: An organic acid naturally occurring in the body’s vertebrae cells that sends energy to muscle cells. It causes muscles to retain water, making them appear larger, and allow athletes to work out harder and longer. While creatine helps athletes gain muscle quickly, it is not yet banned from athletic associations.

Lactic Acid: The chemical responsible for the pain you feel near the end and after an especially intense workout. It is released as a product of a muscle contraction during exercise. A significant buildup results in that “burning sensation” and cramping pains.

Compulsive Exercise: When an athlete feels absolutely committed to his or her workout and is unable to postpone or skip a session. It is generally associated with addiction and obsession, and an athlete who suffers from compulsive behavior usually becomes angry and irritable after missing a workout.

Proteins: Organic compounds that are responsible for the growth and repair of living tissue. It is vital to weightlifters and athletes trying to build muscle and stay healthy and is found naturally in products such as meat, fish and dairy products.

Carbohydrates: A group of organic compounds such as starches, sugars and cellulose that provide a vital energy source for all living things. They are a huge energy source for human beings, and provide the fuel for endurance activities such as running a marathon or playing basketball.

Dehydration: The excessive of loss of water from the body. It results in a high level of sodium in the blood. When you sweat a significant amount and become dehydrated, shock becomes a serious risk.

Hyponatremia: A condition that is more or less the opposite of dehydration, so it is basically when you drink too much water (also know as, believe it or not, “water intoxication”). Hyponatremia is when the sodium levels in your blood are too low.

Electrolytes: Substances composed of free ions vital to a person’s hydration. Many popular sports drinks boast “Electrolytes!” on their labels, because after a period of hard exercise, you need electrolytes to maintain proper nerve and muscle function.

Sad Stats on Body Image:

• One out of every four college aged women has an eating disorder.
• It is estimated that 40-50% of American women are trying to lose weight at any point in time.
• Americans spend more than 40 billion dollars a year on dieting and diet-related products – that’s roughly equivalent to the amount the U.S. Federal Government spends on education each year! Almost half of all women smokers smoke because they see it as the best way to control their weight. Of these women, 25% will die of a disease caused by smoking.
• In 2007, there were about 11.7 million cosmetic procedures performed in the U.S. Ninety one percent of these were performed on women.
• A study found that 53% of thirteen-year-old American girls are unhappy with their bodies. This number grows to 78% by the time girls reach seventeen.

Dear Society,

Don't judge a person on their looks alone. Don't treat someone wrong because they don't fit your personal standards on what beauty is because no matter what the girls in the magazines look like, we are all beautiful. Your words can hurt more that you could ever imagine. Even though you can't see words, they can be felt. They can be sharper than a knife and hotter than the flames of hell. Be careful of what you say. It may have more of an impact than you would like. A simple snicker can cause someone a long life of self hatred. A few words and stares can lead someone to binge, purge, cut, or even worse. Treat others the way you would want to be treated. Begin by knowing that you are beautiful and everyone around you is beautiful as well. Why would ever want to hurt someone as precious as yourself?

*just think about it the next time you start to mistreat someone because they're not just like you.*