Tween Obesity - Stop Sugarcoating It, America

http://www.tweenparent.com/articles/view/331

Guest Blog by Annie Fox!

Dr. Lyndsay's Guest Blog: She's Your Daughter and She Needs You by Annie Fox, M.Ed. Over the past decade research has indicated that girls are getting their periods earlier and earlier. Experts weighed in about the ramifications of the early onset of puberty. Higher risk for cancer, violent victimization and depression made the list. (Depression in girls can lead to cutting, eating disorders, substance abuse, and sexual promiscuity.) Scientists explored the possible causes of this "trend". Turns out, according to the research done by biologist Sandra Steingraber, American girls' onset of menarche (getting their first period) has pretty much stayed the same for the past 35 years. That is, 12.8 years to 12.6 years. What has changed fairly dramatically is the onset of thelarche (the development of breasts). According to the studies Steingraber reviewed in her ground-breaking 1998 book Living Downstream: A Scientist's Personal Investigation of Cancer and the Environment, "By age 8, 14% of American girls have breasts." Read more here....

Proud2BeMe

Last month, the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) announced the launch of an interactive teen website, www.Proud2Bme.org! Proud2Bme is dedicated to promoting healthy attitudes about food, weight and body image, targeting teens and young adults.

The site provides youth with a positive, fun, interactive environment to learn, connect with others and take action for personal and social change—especially the many teens with body image issues or who have (or are at risk of developing) eating disorders. Through engaging content and community features, this unique online space offers news about entertainment, fashion, beauty and other relevant pop culture in a safe, age-appropriate environment. Additionally, there are forums and chat rooms where teens are able to interact and make new friends.