COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Many in our society will go on a diet at some point during their life.
But, for many, those diets may lead to bigger problems. Problems like an eating disorder.
With instant gratification and reassurance on social media, younger generations are turning to these platforms to discover themselves and their self-worth. But, these social pressures can lead the younger generations to feel the desire to be accepted earlier.
"Students learn early on if they perceive themselves as different from other students," said Donna Willett, Bryan ISD director of school counseling.
According to the National Eating Disorders Association, 35 to 57 percent of adolescent women will try some sort of crash diet, diet or laxative pills, or self-induced vomiting to lose extra weight.
Something Lauri Baker Brown, a licensed professional counselor who specializes in eating disorders, said she's seeing more often.
"There are younger and younger individuals developing eating disorders." Baker Brown said.
She said she thinks this spike is due to social media.
"When you have a society where body image and size are highly prioritized, like as is ours, you set up an equation to develop an eating disorder," Baker Brown said.
She said when someone may feel out of control about something in their life, they turn to what they can control.
"It is how people are using food, food related issues, diets or exercise, to cope with issues other than general hunger," she said.
But, Baker Brown said those who may start a rigid diet plan - a diet that may cut the number of carbs, calories, or even meals - may have some negative outcomes.
"Going on a diet and restricting food may hit people in different ways," she said. "People may already have that genetic vulnerablity."
A genetic vulnerability that makes someone more prone to develop disorder eating habits, or even an eating disorder.
Baker Brown said it is like handing an individual a loaded gun.
"Genetics loads the gun, but society pulls the trigger," she said.
And with society painting a "perfect image," those who may not fit the "look," may start to feel like an outsider in their own skin.
For more information on eating disorders, visit the National Eating Disorders Association website.
If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, someone is there to talk. For a list of contact and hotline numbers, please click here.