Teenagers & Eating Disorders
An eating disorder can be about weight, or it can be a cry for help. Find out how you can identify eating disorders and other weight issues.
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Types
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The three most common types of eating disorders are anorexia (self-starvation), bulimia (eating and then purging the meal immediately after), and binge eating (binge eating without purging later).
Significance
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In 2008, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) estimated that ten percent of all teenagers suffer from an eating disorder; anorexia nervosa and bulimia were the most common.
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Identification
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Anorexic teens may exercise excessively, use diuretics, or abuse laxatives to shed pounds. Both bulimic and binge eaters resort to binge eating; however, only bulimic teens end by purging the meal. Teens who binge will do so about two days a week for six months and will not purge, exercise or fast between binges.
Considerations
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The CalTech Counseling Center reminds us that eating disorders, especially anorexia, can signal a teen's need to control something in her life, and warns that attempts to coerce a teen into eating may backfire as they may see the attempt as a move for control.
Warning
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The Anxiety Disorder Association of America warns these eating disorders can "co-morbid" with other psychological disorders, and the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) reports that 20 percent of sufferers will die without proper treatment.
Prevention/Solution
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Support groups, school nurses, doctors, and psychologists can help teens who are dealing with an eating disorder. For support, contact the NEDA helpline at (800) 931-2237.
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