GONE WITH THE WIND

Dieting commonplace among preteen girls (Andre Picard, Globe and Mail, 11/05/04)

Almost one-third of girls in Grades 6 to 8 who are of healthy weight are currently dieting because they believe they are too fat, a new study reveals. And one in 10 of the girls exhibits behaviours consistent with eating disorders.
The findings provide more troubling evidence that young people -- and girls in particular -- are struggling with their body image at an increasingly young age, and that could have serious health consequences.

"We really have to ask ourselves why healthy girls want so desperately to lose weight," Gail McVey, a health-systems research scientist at the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, said in an interview.

She said much of the blame must go to adult role models -- including parents, teachers, coaches -- who are constantly dieting themselves, and who treat those who are overweight with scorn and disdain.

"I want adults to look at their own issues," Dr. McVey said. "What they say and what they do has a big impact on children and teenagers."

The researcher said the media also play a big role in influencing teenage behaviour, by constantly creating ultrathin role models, such as the Olsen twins -- teen actors Mary-Kate and Ashley.

"Young girls think what is attractive is a very thin body shape because they are being told constantly, in words and in images, that's what's attractive," Dr. McVey said.

Kira Oliver, a Grade 7 student at City View Alternative Middle School in Toronto, agreed. She said the message young girls get today is that being thin means being popular and successful.[...]

Dr. McVey said that teaching in schools specifically about eating disorders has backfired by encouraging these behaviours among some children. She has pioneered an alternative approach that has been successful, one that promotes self-esteem, healthy living and good eating habits.

"Scare tactics don't work," Dr. McVey said, and added that there needs to be a realization, among children, parents and teachers alike, that weight gain is normal and necessary for children growing into adolescence.

"We don't give girls permission to go through puberty any more. The panic button gets hit when they put on a little fat, but adding a little fat is part of a natural process," she said.

Although this is presented here as a discrete problem, it is really just another fallout from the sexualization of children through popular culture, parental divorce and dating, sex (or “lifestyle”) education and the decline of paternal authority. There may be no greater tragedy in modern society than how it has robbed children, particularly girls, of the security and comfort of protected innocence. Good news for therapists, though.