Read the text and express your attitude to the problem of anorexia.

Read the text. Be ready to make assignments after the text.

When Dieting Means Dying

Girls are becoming more and more obsessed with their weight. A survey by the Society Eating Disorders shows that this problem is getting worse. Some girls are likely to suffer from some type of anorexia. Before they are even teenagers, girls without the ‘perfect body’ often feel lonely and depressed. They try extremely dramatic diets and even try to starve themselves.

Renay, who is now 18 says her problem started when she was 14. She says, ‘I decided to go on a diet because my best friend was much thinner than me. She was also very popular. I thought if I lost weight, people would like me more and I would have more confidence. Renay’s diet worked. She lost weight and people told her she looked good so she lost even more weight. She didn’t want to stop until she was happy with her body. She had seen very skinny fashion models in magazines like Vogue and she wanted to be like them. She became obsessed, started hating her body and started starving herself until she became seriously ill.

Fashion magazines deny that they are irresponsible. Vogue’s editor said girls got anorexia because they suffered from a low opinion of themselves. He blamed their friends and family for not supporting them enough. Many girls believe that they will be more attractive to boys if they are thinner. British comedian Alan Davies thinks this is crazy. He says, “When I was at school I don’t remember anyone saying ‘Let’s go into the biology lab and find that skeleton – she’s sexy!’ Women worry about their weight too much; they say things like “Do you think these earrings make me look fat?”

a) Do you agree that:

1. dieting does only good for your health?

2. people are more obsessed with their weight?

3. girls got anorexia because they suffered from a low

opinion of themselves?

2. Make up a dialogue on the given situation:

Ann is going to participate in the photo session of the contest “Miss University”. She wants to try a new diet, which she has found in an ultra-fashion magazine. She intends to discuss the components of the diet. But you are rather skeptic about any modern diet.

Read quotations about dieting. Express your agreement or disagreement. Choose one you like and comment it upon.

· “When we lose twenty pounds... we may be losing the twenty best pounds we have! We may be losing the pounds that contain our genius, our humanity, our love and honesty.” Woody Allen

· “I've been on a diet for two weeks and all I've lost is fourteen days.” Totie Fields

· “The first thing you lose on a diet is your sense of humor.” Author Unknown

· “If you really want to be depressed, weigh yourself in grams.” Jason Love

· “I have a great diet. You're allowed to eat anything you want, but you must eat it with naked fat people.” Ed Bluestone

· “A diet is a plan, generally hopeless, for reducing your weight, which tests your will power but does little for your waistline.” Herbert B. Prochnow

Read the text and express your attitude to the problem of anorexia.

What Is Anorexia?

Anorexia is an eating disorder where people starve themselves. Anorexia usually begins in young people around the onset of puberty. Individuals suffering from anorexia have extreme weight loss. Weight loss is usually 15% below the person's normal body weight. People suffering from anorexia are very skinny but are convinced that they are overweight. Weight loss is obtained by many ways. Some of the common techniques used are excessive exercise, intake of laxatives and not eating. Anorexics have an intense fear of becoming fat. Their dieting habits develop from this fear. Anorexia mainly affects adolescent girls.

5. As a sort of conclusion to our lesson speak about diets. Express your own attitude to dieting. Use the following introductory words:

Frankly speaking/to tell the truth – честно говоря

To cut it short – короче говоря

So to speak – так сказать

By the way – кстати, между прочим

It goes without saying – само собой разумеется

As far as I know – насколько я знаю

Indeed – действительно

In other words – другими словами

However – однако

Besides/moreover – кроме того

In any case/anyway – в любом случае

Therefore – по этой причине

Though/although – хотя

Дата добавления: 2015-10-29