The awareness initiative of the Department of Equality about the medical and psychological problems that cause anorexia, bulimia or binge eating has already specifically reached 215 students since last April
The Department of Equality directed by the second deputy mayor Elena Álamo Vega is developing an intense preventive and awareness campaign among the students of the five secondary schools and the two Compulsory Education Centers (CEOs) of the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana. eating disorders.
This campaign, which delves into the physical and mental repercussions and the medical and psychological problems that cause anorexia, bulimia or binge eating, is being taught by the young dietitian and clinical nutritionist Claudia Rodríguez Hernández, responsible for the codes of the menus and diets of the Municipal Residence for the Elderly of the Village of San Nicolás and the CEO Mogán.
Elena Álamo highlights that this initiative was launched in mid-April “with the aim of raising awareness among students and teachers about the risks and consequences of eating disorders, providing them with effective prevention strategies and promoting a healthy relationship. food, body and self-image.”
The campaign, which has already specifically reached 215 students from different courses at the IES Faro de Maspalomas, Támara, El Tablero I-Aguañac and CEO Tunte and which this Thursday will be developed with another 34 students of CEO Pancho Guerra de Castillo del Romeral, is closely linked with the educational centers themselves, which are the ones that propose the beneficiary courses and classes according to the needs detected.
Dietitian Claudia Rodríguez Hernández maintains that “in general, young people tend to experience emotional, physical and social changes, which can significantly influence the perception of their bodies and the relationship with their diet. Eating disorders (ED) are mental health problems that mainly affect adolescents, and that is why early detection in secondary schools is of vital importance."
The surveys being carried out on students participating in this campaign show that almost 62,5% of them usually skip meals, that 67% have at some time received negative comments about their physical appearance; that 54% are not satisfied with their weight; that 37,5% have experienced guilt after eating and also compare themselves physically with others. The questionnaires reveal that there are students who have a bad relationship with food, that there are young people who between the ages of 12 and 17 have gone on diets to lose weight and who even feel uncomfortable eating with people.
The campaign will close next Thursday, May 23, with the first-year Baccalaureate students of IES Amurga. At the end, 300 3rd year ESO and 1st year high school students from this municipality will have learned how beauty standards and social pressure influence the perception of the body, and to identify the individual and social factors that can increase the risk of developing eating disorders.
