Student Suffers Anorexia from Bullying Prior to Alta's Prom
Strict Dieting Leads to Health Issues for Siberian Schoolgirl
An 11th-grader, now known as Anastasia (name changed), was pushed to the brink of anorexia due to relentless school bullying over her weight. At 5'7", her weight plunged from a normal range to 220 lbs after years of radical dieting. Anastasia recounted her story in an interview with KP-Novosibirsk.
"Insults were hurled at me since I can remember. Until I was seven, I was a typical child, perhaps a bit larger but not significantly so. However, then came rapid weight gain in school," she shared.
During her school years, Anastasia struggled with weight fluctuations, gaining approximately 5-10 kg annually. Her family sought medical advice to rule out hormonal issues.
"Doctors attributed my weight gain to love for food, and they were correct," Anastasia explained.
In 11th grade, Anastasia weighed 220 lbs, drawing concern from her parents, and the bullying intensified. Social occasions, such as parties, became challenging as her peers commented on her size.
"Girls discussed dress choices for an event and asked me what to expect from me, commenting that it's tough to find something appealing for a 'big girl'. That hit me hard. I too wanted a nice dress for graduation," she recalled.
In an attempt to regain control, Anastasia embarked on another diet, first eliminating sweets, bread, fats, and other unhealthy foods, then reducing portion sizes to 7 oz. As her desperation grew, she adopted stricter measures.
"I allowed myself only 600 calories a day. I was losing about a pound a day, but I wanted faster results, so I started fasting," she said.
Days of minimal food intake, limited to water, occasional tea or coffee without sugar, led to health issues.
"I became constantly dizzy, cold, and sometimes fainted. In those moments, I permitted myself a small amount of crab sticks, cucumber, or apple - no more than 10 oz a day. All I wanted was to lose weight," she admitted.
After four months of dieting and fasting, her initial weight of 100 kg stabilized at 67. More severe complications emerged, beyond mere weakness, chills, and fainting spells. Anastasia started experiencing hair loss, tooth decay, and a halted menstrual cycle.
"I went to the clinic and was advised to see a psychotherapist. He diagnosed me with 'Disordered Eating Behavior.' It turned out I had driven myself to the point of developing a nervous eating disorder. I was terror-stricken of food, fearing even a slight weight gain, and avoided mirrors to avoid seeing my 'fat' body, feeling I had not reached my ideal weight. Now I realize that I wasn't actually overweight at the time," Anastasia now reveals.
Anastasia's health issues necessitated medical intervention, including a course of psychotherapy and medication.
This case study draws attention to the potential dangers of strict dieting among teenagers. Strict dieting can lead to deficiencies in essential nutrients, disrupt metabolism, cause cardiovascular and digestive issues, and contribute to unhealthy body image perceptions and obsession with weight loss. If signs of abnormal eating habits or negative body image are observed, seeking professional help is highly recommended.
Anastasia's desperate attempts to lose weight led her to a strict regimen of calorie-restricted dieting and intermittent fasting, which negatively impacted her health and wellness. These extreme measures disrupted her nutrition, causing hair loss, tooth decay, and a halted menstrual cycle. Furthermore, her mental health was affected as she developed a nervous eating disorder, aggravated by her distorted perception of an ideal body. Strict dieting can be detrimental to one's fitness and exercise routines and should be approached with caution, especially for teenagers. Seeking help from healthcare professionals is crucial when identifying and addressing abnormal eating habits and negative body image perceptions.
