S E P T E M B E R 3 0

Explore. Create. Achieve.

Miss. Hursts Weekly Newsletter
Laingsburg Elementary School

Last time:
In class and in the newsletter we
discussed healthy eating habits
and some strategies to live a
healthier lifestyle. We talked
about the benefits of exercising
and how often to do it. For
example, children are supposed to
exercise 60 minutes everyday.

Hello Fifth Grade Parents!

Our topic to discuss this week is the eating disorder, Anorexia Nervosa. The vulnerable
adolescents have a distorted image of eating, food and body weight. As a parent or
guardian there are many signs that could give away that your child is headed down the
path of developing Anorexia Nervosa. Felicia Romeo of Adolescent Boys and Anorexia
Nervosa stated the most common features of anorexia nervosa are the intense fear of
becoming obese, disturbance of boy image, significant weight loss, refusal to maintain
body weight beyond the minimal normal weight based on age and height and no known
physical illness that could account for the weight loss. Next week we will look at the
causes of Anorexia and the pressures felt by children.

Save the Date!

No school: Parent Teacher Friday Fun Night:
10/10/14 Conferences: 10/7/14
Teachers will be 10/6/14 There will be fun
meeting for a Time for our first games, snacks and
professional meeting together! activities held here
development for Please do your best at the Elementary
discussing RTI. to try and make it! school for the kids!
 EXPLORE. CREATE. ACHIEVE. FALL 2014
O C T O B E R 7

Explore. Create. Achieve.

Miss. Hursts Weekly Newsletter
Laingsburg Elementary School

Greetings Fifth Grade Parents!

The many causes and pressures of Anorexia Nervosa:
There are many different kinds of
pressures that can cause Anorexia
Nervosa such as, cultural, physical and
psychological. Examples of cultural and
physical pressures are from the
advertising industry and the images they
portray of what the perfect woman
should look like. This negatively affects
girls in a way that makes them strive to be
like those girls in the magazines and do
anything it takes to achieve that body
image, like starving themselves. It is
important to recognize the false reality of
these images and help them to not render
your childs confidence.
Athletes, such as runners can obsess over
their exercising and dieting habits, which can
lead to the disease. Low self- esteem is one of
the most prevalent examples of psychological
pressures. Another cause could be the
family, if the child has another family
member with anorexia, then they are more
likely to develop the disorder. According to
womenshealth.gov, parents who think
looks are important, diet themselves, or
criticize their children's bodies are more
likely to have a child with anorexia. Next
week we will look at a notorious myth of
Anorexia Nervosa, so be sure to be looking
out for the newsletter next week!

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EXPLORE. CREATE. ACHIEVE. FALL 2014

O C T O B E R 1 4

Explore. Create. Achieve.

Miss. Hursts Weekly Newsletter
Laingsburg Elementary School

Myth:
Boys can not develop Anorexia Nervosa
Adolescent girls and young adults are
primarily affected by the eating disorder,
Anorexia Nervosa. The common belief is
that it is rare to occur with males.
According to Felicia Romeo of Adolescent
Boys and Anorexia Nervosa, approximately
1 in 200 adolescents in between the ages
of 12 and 18 develop anorexia nervosa
and 90 percent of them are females.
Although, similar to girls, boys deny that
they are ill and if they do see a doctor it
is normally for endocrine or
gastrointestinal issues, which anorexia
nervosa can cause. These problems
might hide the disorder from the doctor
because they primarily suspect females
for having this eating disorder. Boys,
similar to girls, may be obsessed with
bodybuilding, weight lifting or muscle
toning or have food rituals, restricted
diets etc. according to
nationaleatingdisorders.org. Next week
we will look at research and facts found
on Anorexia Nervosa.

Agenda Preview:
Social Studies : Geography of the United States

Mat hematics : Prime numbers

Language Art s: Comprehension and process skills

Scien ce : Digestive System

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 EXPLORE. CREATE. ACHIEVE.O C T O B E R 2 1 FALL 2014

Explore. Create. Achieve.

Miss. Hursts Weekly Newsletter
Laingsburg Elementary School

Researchers all over the globe are gaining more

knowledge on Anorexia Nervosa
In Personality of Children with Anorexia it stated, the personality of children with anorexia
and 15 children who did not have anorexia were studied using the Eysenck Personality
Questionnaire. Another assessment was given to the children with anorexia looking for
related mental health problems. It was found that children with anorexia have more
problems with their parents; they experience academic pressure or events with family. The
results show that anorexia is connected to childrens unstable personality and their
powerful reactions to external stress. So, children with this disorder tend to fight with their
guardians more often and refuse to listen
Physical Characteristics of and also struggle academically. Although
difficult, next week we will take a look at
children with Anorexia: a worst-case scenario.

Low body weight (15% or more below

what is expected for age, height,
activity level)
Lack of energy, fatigue
Muscular weakness
Decreased balance, unsteady gait
Lowered body temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate
Tingling in hands and feet
Thinning hair or hair loss
Lanugo (downy growth of body hair)
Heart arrhythmia
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Knowing you have your childs best interest in mind I wanted to share with you a
worse case scenario. There are many worst-case scenarios that we dont want to
think about, but it is important to be aware of the disorder and the major problems it
can lead to. According to The Case: Starving for Perfection, at a German university
hospital an 18 year old has been an inpatient for over two months. She has been in a
psychiatric unit before the hospital for not only her severe anorexia, but for
depression and obsessive compulsive disorder. Her anorexia began when she was
11, when she was more than likely in fifth grade, and she was taken out of school due
to the severity of the illness. Her parents have put her in hospitals and therapy all
over the world; doing everything they can to seek her recovery. At this point she
hasnt improved. Her parents are not willing to give up the hope of a full
recovery!

Miss. Hursts Weekly Newsletter

Laingsburg Elementary School

I hope these last five newsletters have provided you with some
great information on Anorexia Nervosa. Thank you to you all
for being so involved already this early into the school year! I
have a feeling this will make for a smooth and successful
school year! Next week look for an entirely new health topic!
Happy almost Halloween!
Best,
Miss. Hurst

http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
/anorexia-nervosa-males
Zhu, Zhongliang, Hui Li, and Xiancang Ma.
"Personality of Children with Anorexia."
Chinese Mental Health Journal 16.11
(2002): 761. ProQuest. Web. 26 Oct.
2013.
MISHRA, RUCHIKA. "The Case: Starving for
Perfection." Cambridge Quarterly of
Healthcare Ethics 21.3 (2012): 396-
7. ProQuest. Web. 26 Oct. 2013.
Laingsburg Elementary School Room 124
117 Prospect Street
Laingsburg, MI 48848
Romeo, Felicia. "Adolescent Boys and
Anorexia Nervosa." Adolescence
29.115 (1994): 643-7.ProQuest.
Web. 27 Oct. 2013.
http://www.womenshealth.gov/publ
ications/our-publications/fact-
sheet/anorexia-nervosa.html