Young people and adolescents have been repeatedly warned regarding eating disorders. Lisa Harmon Mollicone, coordinator of the Manalapan-Englishtown Community Alliance for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, addressed the topic of eating disorders at a full house during the Dec. 14 meeting of the alliance, held at the Manalapan Senior Center.
Her presentations titled, “Dying to Be Thin,” served to warn men, women and teens in attendance that “when image becomes an obsession, it’s time to take a closer look.” She explained that eating disorders are characterized by disturbed eating behaviors and are generally accompanied by a preoccupation with food and body image or shape. She explained about anorexia nervosa that is an emotional weight loss disorder characterized by physical, social and psychological symptoms. She also spoke on bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. Mollicone also spoke of food addiction.
Mollicone advised people to give up dieting, saying that diets do not work because people gain the weight back, diets are expensive and boring and do not necessarily improve health. “Learning to love and accept yourself just as you are will give you self-confidence, better health and a sense of well-being that will last a lifetime,” she said. Eating disorders affect 10 million women nationwide, according to the National Eating Disorders Association.
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