Selena Gomez made headlines last week for her announcement that she would be taking time off from touring. The reason? To focus on her “health and happiness.” Last October, Selena revealed that she was diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disease for which she underwent chemotherapy.

I was ten years old the first time I was fascinated by celebrities. I was in a grocery store aisle, immersed in a magazine determined to look like the women in these magazines no matter the cost.   Looking at these images was not the sole factor in the development of my eating disorder but it certainly played a key component. I struggled with my eating disorder throughout my middle and high school years.  

I didn’t start out as a runner. I started out as a girl who loved being outside with my sisters and going on adventures in our backyard. I started out as a chaser of many things including animals, sisters, and boys on the playground. Being active was a normal part of my upbringing.

Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter have become a huge part of most teens’ lives. But do they help or hurt our self-esteem and body image? We asked. You answered.  

A recent CNN article explored how we are now exposed to more and more images of unattainable beauty, thanks to social networking: “Before social networks, we mostly had images of impossibly perfect celebrities. We would pass these images on billboards, watch them on TV, flip through them in magazines, but we weren't sitting around staring at them for hours every day.”

Feeling confident can come easily when we put on our favorite shirt or wear those jeans that make our butt look fabulous. However, it is often hard to say the same when we remove those articles of clothing before showering and get a look at ourselves in the mirror. I can relate. I have put on a bikini only once in the past two and a half years because of the constant battles I have with the way I look out of clothes. 

High school gym class: unfortunately, we’ve all been there. The smelly uniforms and overly competitive students were bad, but the unhealthy and unhelpful lessons many take away are far worse. Gym teachers (sometimes because of requirements by the state) often run their classes in ways that can damage students’ self-esteem. In large part, this is a result of outdated and inaccurate measures of “health.” 

High school can be a difficult enough place on its own, and it can be an even bigger minefield when you or a friend is struggling with an eating disorder.  On the flip side, this can help to inform the school administration of your concerns and encourage meaningful change. Below is a template that you can modify and send to principals, teachers, and/or guidance counselors who you think can assist you.  This is merely an example and should be edited to meet your school’s specific needs. 

Dear                     ,

Eating disorders are a collection of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are not just weight and food related but also include disordered thoughts about health. This creates rigidity or chaos that impacts quality of life and perpetuates the striving for “healthy” ideals--which then borders on disordered. As the aggregate of thoughts and behaviors become driven, automated, or compulsive, there is initially a loss of vitality and spontaneity replaced by rigidity. At the very least, this creates eating disordered thoughts and behaviors and, at worst, it precipitates an eating disorder. 

Social media is a great tool for connecting with others. However, it can also be a dangerous space for people with eating disorders. 

This is a cheat-sheet to help you: 

• Help a friend struggling with an eating disorder on social media. 
• Be a positive role model on social media.  
• Responsibly share a personal story of an eating disorder to the public

HOW TO HELP A FRIEND STRUGGLING WITH AN EATING DISORDER ON SOCIAL MEDIA  

Disordered eating is when your food, weight, and/or body size lead to strict eating and exercise habits then threaten your health, safety, and happiness. While most people think they’ve got it under control, these habits can quickly progress and lead to an eating disorder – which can be life threatening – so it’s never too early to talk to someone and ask for help.  

Don’t try to do this alone -- talking to someone you trust can provide the comfort, support, and direction you need. Opening up can be tough, but these guidelines can help make it easier.