How to Protect Your Teen from Eating Disorders

Almost 4% of teen girls and 1.5% of teen boys between the ages of 13-18 suffer from an eating disorder. The reasons are complicated, but there are things parents and caregivers can do to help reduce their adolescent’s odds of developing this serious condition.

At Lewis Family Psychiatry, based in Wellington, Florida, our highly skilled team of psychiatric nurse practitioners provide personalized mental, emotional, and behavioral health care for all ages, including teens suffering from eating disorders. 

With our customized online telemedicine platform, we can meet virtually with patients throughout the state for treatment, assessment, and medication management which increases convenience and saves both hassle and time.

Eating disorders

An eating disorder can be a serious health condition that affects an individual in many ways including their physical and mental health and their ability to engage fully in life. Sufferers typically focus on food, their body shape and weight, and their eating behaviors. If not successfully treated, it can become an ongoing problem and even lead to death. Unfortunately, these disordered eating behaviors are a way of trying to control their world that may feel out of control.

Types and symptoms

Symptoms depend on the type of eating disorder. Anorexia can include behaviors such as not eating enough calories, exercising too much, using laxatives, and vomiting after eating. More subtle signs that parents can watch for include needing new pants/shorts in a smaller size, not wanting to eat with the family, claiming to be a vegetarian, refusing a former favorite food, regularly saying that they ate earlier and are not hungry, refusing to get on a scale in front of a parent or not having her menstrual cycle in months. 

People with bulimia typically binge eat large amounts of food quickly then vomit, use laxatives, exercise too much, or severely limit subsequent calories. They can be secretive about eating, want to eat alone or have a habit of going to the restroom at the end of a meal. Binge eating is similar to bulimia but sufferers don’t purge. Remnants of food eaten are found in their bedroom, food disappears without explanation and are also secretive about their eating.

Those with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder severely limit what foods they eat and often don't get enough of their daily nutritional needs.

Causes

A variety of factors can play into the development of an eating disorder. These factors include genetics and mental health problems like anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Having a poor body image, poor self esteem, putting too much focus on weight or appearance, and dieting at a young age can also play a role. Parents who are overly focused on a child/teens eating habits and weight can also be a factor in developing an eating disorder. 

Experiences such as having a family member with an eating disorder or participating in modeling or  in sports like gymnastics, ballet, and wrestling that focus on weight can also contribute.

Prevention

While there’s no surefire way to prevent an eating disorder, there are things parents and caregivers can do to help their children develop a healthy attitude toward their bodies and food. These include:

Be positive

No matter your child's body type, talk to them about self-image, the idea that bodies come in all shapes and sizes, and the importance of accepting their body as it is. Include a discussion about how their body is more than their appearance and talk about all the things it allows them to do. Finally, adults should never criticize their own bodies in front of their children.

Reinforce the importance of food

Model healthy eating and a positive relationship with food. In addition, keep a variety of healthy foods in your house. Eat dinner together as a family and serve as a good role model. Don’t diet in front of your children.

Talk to your child

Educate yourself about eating disorders before you talk to your child so you both can better understand the dangers. Discuss the Internet's role as well. Many websites and social media platforms involve people sharing diet tips and disordered eating behaviors and teens can innocently stumble upon this information.

Ask for help

Ask your child's doctor or a mental health professional about how to identify early signs or how to discuss the subject with your child. If you suspect your teen has an eating disorder, it's important to seek professional help to get started on a multi-pronged treatment approach that involves experts like a doctor, dietitian, and therapist.

With our convenient virtual treatment options, we can help. Click our contact button or call us at 561-303-0433 today to make an appointment.