Title:

Tendecy to Suffer Eating Disorder Among Adolescent Girls Admist

COVID-19

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Pharagraph 1: Ideal State

Novel Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) is a contagious resperitory illness that has struck the
world in the late 2019 originated in Wuhan, China. The World Health Organization (WHO)
declared this as a global pandemic as it continuously affecting more than 30 countries
worldwide (World Health Organization, 2020). The government respond through proposing law
and protocol such as 'social distancing' outside the residence and 'home quarantine' among
ages 1-20 and senior citezens. Thus, mental health issues began to imerge having an increase
number of psychological distress, depression, and anxiety reported. In addition, boredom and
feeling of loneliness could cause eating disorder among adolesent especially girls (Bruce and
Agras, 1992). Admist COVID-19, adolescent mainly girls will be much likely to suffer this illness
following safety protocols called by the government.

Paragraph 2: Reality

Modern-day girls are exposed to many ideal body type and beauty perceived by social media,
celebrities and other adolescent. Study shows that 50-88% of adolescent girls feel negatively
about their body shape or size. 49% of teenage girls say they know someone with an eating
disorder (Field, A.E., Cheung, L., Wolf, A.M., et.al.,1999) . Only 33% of girls say they are at the
“right weight for their body”, while 58% want to lose weight. Just 9% want to gain weight
(Smart Girl Speaks, n.a.). Females are much more likely than males to think their current size is
too large (66% vs. 21%) (Rand, C.S., Resnick, J.L., & Seldman, R.S., 1997).The pandemic might
add anxiety given that new normal mainly change everything from access to foods, everyday
routine, social support and medical treatment. Latest study shows that there is potential for
adverse psychological and health consequences in the general population because of
potentially reduced exercising and increased binge eating and restricting behaviors since the
COVID‐19 pandemic (Phillipou, A., 2020).

Paragraph 3: How to address or solve the gap between the ideal and the reality
Because of the ongoing pandemic and observation among adolescent's eating behavior, this
paper aims to study the tendecy of adolescent girls to suffer eating disorder while pandemic is
on going. The subject of the study are in highest risk to acquire this illness. Adolescent girls will
be characterized according to behavior before pandemic starts; normal eating behavior,
detected disorder and exercising. Early detection of eating disorder and awareness of public is
necessary in today's generation.

REFERENCES
Bruce, B. , & Agras, W. S. (1992). Binge eating in females:population‐based
investigation. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 12(4), 365–373.

Field, A.E., Cheung, L., Wolf, A.M., (1999). Exposure to the mass media and weight
concerns among girls. Pediatrics 1999;103(3):E36.

Phillipou, A., Meyer, D., Neill, E.,et al., (2020).Eating and exercise behaviors in
eating disorders and the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic in
Australia: Initial results from the COLLATE project. Int J Eat Disord, 53(7):1158-
1165. doi:10.1002/eat.23317

Rand, C.S., Resnick, J.L.,& Seldman, R.S., (1997).Assessment of socially acceptable

body sizes by university students. Obes Res, 5(5):425-429ss

SmartGirl Speaks (n.a.). Eating disorder quick poll reports.SmartGirl.org,

University of Michigan. Retreived from http://www.smartgirl.org/.

World Health Organisation, (2020). WHO Director‐General's opening remarks at

the media briefing on COVID‐19. . Retrieved on March 11, 2020 from
https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who‐director‐general‐s‐opening‐
remarks‐at‐the‐media‐briefing‐on‐covid‐19‐‐‐11‐march‐2020
SUBMITTED BY: Nicole Alyana Macainan 12 STEM- Einstein