Spartanburg School District 6 has received a grant for promoting awareness for Eating Disorders, Disordered Eating, and Body Image. The grant was funded by an anonymous donor through the Spartanburg County Foundation. The focus of the grant is to provide ongoing support and staff development, in addition to direct care and treatment for students, teachers, and/or District 6 families struggling with an Eating Disorder, Disordered Eating or Body Image issues. This Weebly is designed to offer resources and information in accordance with the intentions of the grant.
Click on the DSM-5 Manual to read the diagnostic criteria for eating disorders
Just looking for an overview? See how the National Eating Disorders Association breaks down the types of eating disorders here.
Disordered eating and eating disorders can cause some VERY SERIOUS health problems! Not sure about it? Read the list of Medical Problems Associated with Eating Disorders.
Although disordered eating is not an eating disorder, they are red flags and can be just as serious. If you notice any of the disordered eating behaviors going on, please talk with the person or to a trusted adult about the issue. Click here to learn more about the Physical signs and symptoms of eating disorders. For Emotional and Behavioral signs of Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders, click here.
Eating Disorder Statistics:
30 million people (20 million females, 10 million males) in the United States have an Eating Disorder. Compare this to 5.1 million people with Alzheimer's, 3.6 million people with Autism, and 3 million with breast cancer.
Anorexia is the 3rd most common illness among adolescents behind asthma and obesity.
Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of all the psychiatric disorders.
85% of people with eating disorders have the disorder since childhood or adolescence.
There has been a 119% increase in hospitalization for eating disorders in children under the age of 12 in the past decade.
60% of people with an eating disorder are "average" size or larger.
Body Image Statistics:
By age 6, girls especially start to express concerns about their own weight or shape. 40-60% of elementary school girls (ages 6-12) are concerned about their weight or about becoming too “fat”. This concern endures through life (Smolak, 2011).
The average 16- to 25-year-old woman spent 16 minutes taking an average of three selfies per day, for five hours a week.
People ages 8-18 spend 7.5 hours per day with media (phones, television, internet).
The average teen sees more than 5,260 attractiveness messages per day.
Media is EVERYWHERE! For more information about media and the influence it has on body image in children and teens, read Common Sense Media's Research Brief by clicking on the Smart Phone above.
Think you may have an eating disorder? Click on a picture below to take an online screening test.