Describe two adolescent eating disorders and the characteristics of individuals with each disorder.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Students' answers may vary. Anorexia nervosa affects slightly less than 1 percent of U.S. adolescent girls. Its three main characteristics are weighing less than 85 percent of what is considered normal for a person's age and height, having an intense fear of gaining weight that continues even with weight loss, and having a distorted image of body shape. Anorexia nervosa sees onset in early adolescence, and about 70 percent of anorexics eventually recover. Most who suffer from this condition are non-Latino White adolescent or emerging adult females from well-educated, middle- and upper-income families. 
Bulimia nervosa affects about 1-2 percent of U.S. women. Onset occurs in late adolescence or early adulthood. It is characterized by a binge-and-purge cycle, preoccupation with food and gaining weight, and depression and anxiety. Those who suffer from bulimia nervosa are usually in a normal weight range; about 90 percent are females; and about 70 percent will recover.