Module 4B The Way People Live Activities 1 Look at the picture and discuss a What is the girl doing? b What is she worried about? c What can you advise this girl? d Why you think people are worried about this topic? d What’s the role of mass media in this topic? Eating Disorders An Obsession with Being Thin Eating disorders can really affect a person’s health Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder in which a person starves herself or himself to lose weight Bulimia nervosa is another eating disorder in which a bulimic person fills herself or himself up with food and then induces vomiting These people also resort to laxatives, diuretics and diet pills without medical supervision seriously putting their lives in danger The idea of perfection is quite common in our society nowadays If we can’t reach this objective and be slim, fit and beautiful, then we feel bad Photocopiable © Ediciones Santillana S.A / Richmond 2011 Cindy, the girl in the picture, is thinking about food But she is also thinking about keeping fit and being thin She probably has an eating disorder Many people believe that part of the cause of undergoing an eating disorder is how much they value and focus on being thin No matter how beautiful they look, almost every woman in the world dreams about being thin If there was one thing they could change about themselves, it is their weight It is easy to become obsessed with our appearance, especially with our weight Nearly every magazine ad and every television commercial we come across show thin, beautiful people No wonder we end up thinking we should look like them about how we look This can lead to the kind of behaviour that harms rather than helps Most young girls like Cindy think they really don’t feel they are very good at anything Food seems to be the only thing in life they can control But it isn’t In addition to being unhappy with their bodies and themselves, many teens have a strong need for approval from their parents and peers and some of them may be severely depressed English Toolkit - Natural Sciences Module 4B 2 Answer these questions a What eating disorders are mentioned in the text? b What can make someone go to one of these extremes to lose weight? c Can you make a list of the factors that play a part in this behaviour? 3 Put these ideas in the order they appear in the text a Bulimia and anorexia definitions b The influence of mass media c Cindy’s problem e Teens’ problems 4 Match these two columns to identify warning signs a sudden drop b excessive concern and discontent c distorted d taking e using f an obsession g refusal h excessive 1 body image 2 diet pills 3 physical exercise with one’s body 5 with food 6 laxatives 7 in weight 8 to eat 5 Discuss with your classmates in your own language a How you avoid falling into the trap of eating disorders? b What are the causes of anorexia in your opinion? c What can you to help someone who is bulimic? 6 Now look up information about eating disorders (bulimia and anorexia) in encyclopaedias or search the Web Visit institutions or hospitals Interview a nutritionist and ask for a healthy diet plan With all this information, write a three-paragraph composition about one of these two eating disorders English Toolkit - Natural Sciences Photocopiable © Ediciones Santillana S.A / Richmond 2011 d Society’s ideal