ABSTRACT
The term ‘adolescent’ comes from the Latin adolescere and literally means ‘to grow into maturity’, and the move from childhood to adulthood is marked by an extended period of growth. As a child grows into adolescence, great changes take place in that child’s life, physically, psychologically and socially. The move away from childhood and into adulthood brings with it responsibilities and choices not available to a child. Other physical changes that take place during adolescence are known as secondary sexual changes, and these occur over a period of several years. One interpersonal issue that may contribute to stress during adolescence is that of self-perception. Many young people who had previously been highly confident and outgoing suddenly become self-conscious. The difference is that in the case the young person, alternates between periods of binge eating followed by either self-induced vomiting or taking laxatives, to compensate for the amount of food eaten and prevent weight gain.
