To introduce leaders or adult friends of teens to the many issues, indications, and implications of teens with eating disorders.

OVERVIEW

LEADER PREPARATION

Collect the following items:

• Statistics or articles on eating disorders.
• A list of warning signs of eating disorders.
• Paper bags, scissors, glue, and magazines.
• A taped discussion with a bulimic in counseling who can share his or her story.

GROUP BUILDING

Each person receives a paper bag. Using clippings from magazines they should describe themselves by pasting things on the outside that they outwardly portray and placing clippings inside which describe who they are inside. Give each person enough time to explain themselves. The goal is for participants to interact with their own self image and to be sensitive to others in the group.

GROUP PRESENTATION

• Play the tape of the counseled bulimic. Use the questions listed below to facilitate discussion.
• Discuss the warning signs and criteria of an eating disorder.
• Stress the point that an eating disorder is not an issue of food, but one of addiction, control, low self esteem, anger, depression, grief, and/or family issues.

GROUP DISCUSSION

• Have any adults in the group had personal contact with teens with an eating disorder?
• What are some ways to discreetly observe teens?
• Would any person make additions to the list of indications of eating disorders?
• How should one create a model peer group specifically designed to facilitate the needs of teens with eating disorders?
• Why would the issues mentioned—and not the issue of food—contribute to eating disorders?
• At what point would you be willing to intervene? How?
• What type of group could be helpful? What subjects would be helpful for working with a person with an eating disorder?

WRAP-UP

Youth workers face teens daily who struggle with self image. There is an opportunity to help those students with low self esteem experience the meaning of being valued. Listen to their stories—their verbal and their non verbal tales. Enter into these delicate situations and offer to travel along the healing process with them. Offer them hope. It is helpful to know a professional trained in this area who can give a summary and a prediction of hope for recovery.

EVALUATION AND FOLLOW UP

• Encourage program participants to list the teens that they are concerned about and to note observed signs and symptoms.
• To obtain and share additional information, ask leaders to contact organizations specializing in eating disorders.