Teens, Eating Disorders & Signs To Look For

Everywhere we look, thinness is promoted as the beauty standard. For teenagers, this bombardment of thin social media influencers, pop stars, and actors is happening at crucial time in their brain development. As a parent or someone who works with teens, it’s important to be able to recognize the signs of an eating disorder.

The data shows that eating disorders affect a significant number of teenagers, with estimates suggesting that up to 30 million people in the United States alone suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their lives. Eating disorders are among the deadliest mental health conditions and getting someone

help early on can mean the difference between life and death. Here are several warning signs that your teen may be suffering with an eating disorder.

They experience drastic weight changes

Sudden and extreme weight loss or weight gain can be a telltale sign of an eating disorder. Pay attention if you notice big changes in your teenager’s body weight or if they become obsessed with counting calories, fat grams, or fitting into certain clothes. They may also complain of feeling fat even as they’re dropping weight.

They fixate on their body image

Constantly talking negatively about their body, frequently checking their appearance in mirrors, and expressing dissatisfaction with their shape are red flags for an eating disorder. Also, be mindful if they start wearing oversized or baggy clothing to conceal their body.

They engage in restrictive eating habits

Teens with eating disorders often impose their own strict dietary restrictions, such as avoiding entire food groups, skipping meals, or showing an obsession with “clean” or “healthy” eating. They may also insist on only using certain cutlery or cutting their food into tiny pieces. Watch out for a teen who looks forward to cooking but then can’t eat what they’ve made.

They may make excuses to avoid meals

If your teenager consistently comes up with excuses to avoid family meals or social gatherings involving food, it could be a sign of an eating disorder. They may claim they have already eaten or feel unwell whenever mealtime approaches. This can also be a tactic to hide their behavior around food. They may also express guilt after eating in front of other people. Also notice whether your teen runs to the bathroom right after eating.

They prioritize exercising

While regular exercise is healthy, obsessive and compulsive exercise patterns might be indicative of an eating disorder. Pay attention if your teen seems compelled to exercise even when injured, exhausted, or unwell. It’s also an issue if they ignore other responsibilities, such as school deadlines, to get in a workout.

Their mental health declines

Eating disorders often go hand-in-hand with emotional and behavioral changes, which can be hard to spot in a teen. Watch out for signs of depression, anxiety, irritability, social withdrawal, secrecy, perfectionism, or a decline in academic performance. They may also have intense mood swings and talk negatively about themselves.

Getting them help

If you’re worried about a teen you love who might be suffering with an eating disorder, it’s important to react now. Talking about eating disorders isn’t easy, so you should prepare for your conversation with them. Choose a quiet location that doesn’t revolve around food. Equip yourself with knowledge about eating disorders and the damage they do to the body and brain. Don’t force them to talk or judge them. Provide them with a listening ear and let them know you’re only there to support them. Talk with them about choosing the right therapeutic treatment so they can regain a healthy relationship with food.

To find out more about how eating disorder therapy can help teens overcome their eating disorders, please reach out to us.