The media and society have unhealthy views on what beauty is and isn’t. Unfortunately for many teens, this can lead to significant pressure to conform to unrealistic standards through changing their natural eating patterns.
Eating disorders primarily affect young women, but young men can also be affected, and are less likely to be spotted or diagnosed due to the lesser awareness of males being vulnerable to eating problems, too.
The Three Main Types
Anorexia is a disorder that often results from poor self-esteem, bullying, and abuse. Teens, primarily young women, become obsessed with being thin, and when they reach one weight-loss goal, they set another, unable to stop and simply not seeing that they are already unhealthily thin. It can result in literally starving to death, the body’s organs deprived of vital nutrients.
It is crucial to seek psychological help if you suspect your teen is anorexic, as an anorexic teen has a serious fear of food, and this will continue unchecked until treated.
Bulimia is similar to anorexia in that an affected teen will become obsessed with being thin, but bulimics lose weight a different way. They usually binge on food and then force themselves to vomit it later, exercise, or fast to assuage the guilt they feel for their binge.
It can be harder to spot bulimics, as they do eat food, but if your teen binges on rich, unhealthy foods and then disappears to the bathroom, it can sometimes signal bulimia.
The third common type of eating disorder is compulsive eating. The opposite physical effects of anorexia and bulimia result: people who feel compelled to binge, but not purge afterwards, will gain weight and often become depressed as a result.
Signs and Symptoms of Eating Disorders
If your teen suffers from several of the following symptoms, it may be a sign that they have an eating disorder:
- Poor blood circulation
- Menstrual irregularities
- Fainting or dizziness
- Dehydration
- Hair loss
- Depression
- Frequent diets and a compulsion to lose weight
- An obsession with food
- Uncontrollable eating or refusing to eat
The help of trained psychologists who know how to handle eating disorders is invaluable. Eating disorders are a type of addiction that is almost impossible to overcome without help, and sometimes hospitalization or continued counseling is necessary.
Depression is often linked with an eating disorder, as many people starve themselves to feel better about their own body image or eat too much as a coping mechanism. The treatment of your eating-disordered teen’s depression will probably involve more healthy ways of coping with stressful situations, and helping your teen to recognize that his or her body is beautiful the way it is.
The support of family, friends, and particularly you is crucial. Eating disorders are stigmatized, surrounded by shame, and often clouded with myths, rumors, and misguided statements like, “Why don’t you just begin eating normally?”
With your support, your teen can overcome his or her eating disorder and live a healthy, full life. If you suspect your teen has an eating disorder, don’t wait until it’s too late — talk to your teen about his or her eating habits today.
Related posts:
- How to Raise a Healthy Child
- How to Get Your Teen to Eat Healthy
- How to Tell if Your Teen is in Trouble
Tags: Teen Eating Disorders, Teens Anorexia, Teens Bulimia, Teens Compulsive Eating, Types of Eating Disorders