Annika Wahlsten

807

1-1-15

Non-Fiction Critical Analysis

The article “Eating Disorders Could Start as Early as Elementary School” by Marie Ellis explains how eating disorder like bulimia and anorexia are heavily associated with teens and young adults yet they can occur in children ages eight to twelve. This can also mean that the kids might have other mental problems that could appear sooner. I believe that Ellis has a very clear article with no lack of information and very little bias.

Marie Ellis also takes a paragraph to explain why eating disorders are not only occurring with girls. She quotes “Although eating disorders are typically ascribed to females, the study found that boys in the same age group were similar to the girls in most cases, with the exception being a link with social isolation, which the researchers say was greater and lengthier for boys. According to the NIMH, some boys with eating disorders display symptoms similar to those seen in females, while others may have muscle dysmorphia - an extreme concern with becoming more muscular.” I appreciate how Ellis goes in depth in explaining why eating disorders aren't just a ‘girl problem’. I think she left out some very important information like why people would think its just a problem for girls and the perception of eating disorders in the media. Ellis also uses statistics to back up her opinion for each section of the article. For example for the section labeled “Being mocked or bullied served as a trigger to eating problems” Ellis quotes using statistics, "Many factors are associated with the development and persistence of eating disorders," says Prof. Meilleur. "For some children, bullying can initiate or reinforce body image preoccupations and possibly lead to a change in eating behavior."Of the children in the study, 22.7% reported being mocked or insulted for their appearance, which they identified as a trigger for modifying their eating behaviors.”

Marie Ellis has a very strong article in terms of evidence and statistics yet she's lacking at look at all perspective and maybe having a quote from a parent who even child suffering from an eating disorder. This article has showed me that accurate, strong  evidence can persuade the reader very but to give the article depth it needs to be looked at from all sides.