Susan Spaeth Cherry

Susan Spaeth Cherry, a freelance writer and mother of two daughters, proposes in the following viewpoint that parents play an important part in preventing eating disorders. She claims that parents can help ease the anxieties of adolescence by explaining to their children that it is normal for their weight to increase as their bodies grow. Other steps parents can take to prevent their children from developing an eating disorder are to refrain from commenting on people’s figures, avoid buying magazines that feature extremely thin models, and keep fresh, healthy food available at all times. Parents can also help prevent eating disorders by fostering high self-esteem in their children, Cherry claims.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What reasons does Cherry offer for why eating disorders begin in early adolescence"

2. How can...