【英语时差8,16】体重过重的女儿有忧郁倾向

Dear Annie:

My daughter, "Lara," just finished her junior year in college, and she has been steadily¹ gaining weight.

The summer before college, Lara dropped some pounds and seemed determined² not to gain them back. Her self-esteem went up and she was happy.

However, her weight has gone back up, and I know her size bothers her because I've seen her cry. Yet she doesn't do anything. I am terribly concerned about her. In the past six months, she's ballooned even more. She must weigh at least 250 pounds.

I don't know how I can help her. When she is away at school, I get little time with her and don't know if it's right to bring up the subject. Please help. － Worried in the Midwest

Dear Worried:

Lara's weight may be a manifestation³ of mild depression. Many kids who go away to college use food as comfort to compensate⁴ for loneliness, stressful classes, etc., and this is where you should focus your efforts. Suggest exercise as a way to boost⁵ her endorphins. If she's home for the summer, you can join her at a gym or in biking around the neighborhood. When she's back at school, encourage her to take advantage of the college counselling services. Make this about her health and happiness and not about her size.

1 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

2 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

3 manifestation   

n.表现形式；表明；现象

参考例句：

• Her smile is a manifestation of joy.她的微笑是她快乐的表现。
• What we call mass is only another manifestation of energy.我们称之为质量的东西只是能量的另一种表现形态。

4 compensate   

vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消

参考例句：

• She used her good looks to compensate her lack of intelligence. 她利用她漂亮的外表来弥补智力的不足。
• Nothing can compensate for the loss of one's health. 一个人失去了键康是不可弥补的。

5 boost   

n.鼓励，激励，提高；v.鼓励，使增强信心

参考例句：

• This will be a great boost to the economy.这对于经济发展将是一个巨大的促进。
• These changes will help to boost share prices.这些变化将有助于提高股票价格。