O-Slim

1. She is Monica She is Windy Lee She is Karen Li She is Edith Mak She’s Inez Rachel Ma Clara Li group leader We are O-Slim group members O-Slim

2. Topic: Unhealthy slimming of teenage girls Research questions: a. What is the current situation of unhealthy slimming among teenage girls? b. Why does unhealthy slimming of teenage girls exist? c. What are the negative effects of unhealthy slimming on (1)teenage girls and (2)their families? d. What can the (1)government, (2)schools, (3)their families and (4)themselves do to improve the situation of unhealthy slimming of teenage girls?

3. Introduction Many classmates skipped their lunch since they were not satisfy with their body figure. As unhealthy slimming affects their health badly and the situation of unhealthy slimming of teenage girls in Hong Kong is getting more serious. We want them to know the negative effects of unhealthy slimming and ways to improve the situation of unhealthy slimming of teenage girls.

4. What is the current situation of unhealthy slimming among teenage girls? Do exercises frantically Eat a lot in a short time make themselves vomit /use laxative go on diet again. 13 to 19-year-old teenage girls austerely control intake of food though they are not overweight A survey shows that 44% of students from 11 to 20 years old among 3507students did unhealthy slimming. Their greatest concern is weight control It has become a trend Use slimming products

5. Why does unhealthy slimming of teenage girls exist? Want to emulate their idols Influenced by advertisements of slimming productsand slimming programmes in the mass media Influenced by the trend which promote the idea that being slim is beautiful Influenced by their peers etc. Lack self confidence In pursuit of a perfect body shape Family problems (to free themselves and to rebel against their parents)

6. What are the negative effects of unhealthy slimming on teenage girls? Their hairs will become very dry, withered and yellowish Their skin will become dry and wrinkles will appear Look pale Their nails will become brittle Lead to emotional instability and malnutrition Be addicted to Phentermine (a kind of stimulants) and have cardiovascular disease, feel dizzy, excited, may have bad breath and cause high thyroxine Have dehydration Develop Anorexia Nervosa( in Chinese厭食症)or Bulimia Nervosa ( in Chinese暴食症) Menstrual cycles( in Chinese月經)will be upset Frequent forced vomiting will cause chestpain, Gastroesophageal Reflux, irregular heart beats and sudden death Affect one’s social life

7. Do you think teenage girls will ask their parents Do you think unhealthy slimming worsens the for a lot of money for their unhealthy slimming? relationship between teenage girls and their families? 40 35 35 50 42 30 25 40 25 Frequency 30 20 Frequency 18 15 20 10 10 5 0 0 Agree Disagree Agree Disagree What are the negative effects of unhealthy slimming on teenage girls’ families? More than half of the respondents thought teenage girls’ parents will spend a lot of money for their children’s unhealthy slimming. The majority of respondents agreed unhealthy slimming worsens the relationship between teenage girls and their families.

8. What can their families do to improve the situation of unhealthy slimming of teenage girls? Encourage their children to develop their own hobbies and self confidence Encourage their children to accept their imperfection Communicate more with their children and impart the correct, healthy way of eating and body shape to their children Help correct their children from following the trend of slimming Be aware of their children if they have abnormal eating habits. If they find that their children have eating disorderly, they should send their children to the psychologist

9. Do you think the government has carried out enough measures to deal with unhealthy slimming of teenage girls? 50 43 40 30 Frequency 17 20 10 0 Agree Disagree What can the government do to improve the situation of unhealthy slimming of teenage girls? Slightly more than 70% of respondents did not think the government has carried out enough measures to deal with unhealthy slimming of teenage girls.

10. A minority of them claimed that the Department of Health should have closer supervision and even impose laws to control the selling of unhealthy slimming products The Government should educate the citizens about the correct concept of healthiness

11. What can the schools do to improve the situation of unhealthy slimming of teenage girls? About one quarter of the respondents believed that schools can educate students about how to maintain a healthy life and the correct concept of body figure Slightly less than one-fifth of them deemed that schools can help students to build up their self-confidence in other aspects More than 1.5 percent of them opined that school should provide nutritious lunchboxes to the students The rest of them agreed that holding seminars for parents about how to avoid unhealthy slimming of their children is one of the solutions The minority of them regarded that schools should educate the students and parents about the correct concept of healthy slimming

13. What can the teenage girls do to improve the situation of unhealthy slimming of themselves? More than one quarter regarded they should do exercise regularly Slightly less than nine-twentieth of the respondents considered that they should have a balanced diet Less than three-twentieth of them thought they should have a correct concept of body figure Slightly more than one-tenth of them thought that building up one’s confidence helps to eliminate incorrect ways to starve one’s body The rest claimed that listening to advices is important Build up a positive self image

14. Conclusion So don’t skip your lunch and be a healthy girl!

15. Difficulties It was difficult to combine our ideas in order to have the best idea and explanation It was hard to find and analyze the information Reflection Through the project, we know the correct concept of slimming We will encourage others to maintain a healthy life ~The End~