Eat it

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introduce myself. My name is Mam Penda Secka; I'm an ordinary citizen, just like the individuals in this room. Today, I'm going to open your eyes and tell you how dangerous Anorexia Nervosa; people still do it; I don't get it. SO I say to you today: Anorexia is a disease, not a fashion statement.

In this day and age girls and young adults are becoming self-conscious, due to their weight.

Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder and a mental health condition, which can be life threatening. Any magazine, TV or advert on the internet we look at is full of 'skinny' girls. Our fashion statement 'skinny' looks good in clothes and skinny is beautiful. As a result of this, most girls want to look like that.

It's not healthy, it's not pretty, it's not real. Becoming anorexic can cause: heart problems, stomach problems, kidney problems, dehydration and more. (Ninety percent of anorexia sufferers are women. Five to eighteen percent of these will die of a pointless death.)

The media has a part in this 'disease;' they are making celebrities on the computer appear the 'perfect' size when they are acting or presenting. So I ask now, at this second, who are we to copy celebrities? They are not real!

Imagine if your life was like this:

3.30am: Get up. Go to gym, run 6.50 miles. BURN 600 CALORIES.

4.30am: Do 800 sit-ups. Do upper/lower body strength training.

5.30am: Go home. Take a shower. Take a nap.

Would you like a life like this? Is being 'skinny' worth this? NO!

Many girls and women who are anorexic have psychological issues - due to abuse. The only thing they believe they CAN control is their food intake and their weight. Despite being un-common condition anorexia is one of the leading causes of mental health-related deaths. This can be due to the effects of malnutrition or as a result of suicide. Anorexia is life threatening, stupid and pointless.

We can change this; let it be known that anorexia nervosa is not needed. Let the world know we can save lives by doing our part in society. When I see my friends - girls - I want to have the reassurance that they are going to stay with me and not leave as a result of a blindness illness.

We, the people of life, have the power to change the blindness dying, so lets change it. Lets open girls eyes to a happy life full of healthy beauty. We are the power to life, lets not let people die over something meaningless.

By Man Penda Secka 8a/En1