Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents

Eating disorders can be physically and emotionally devastating. Symptoms such as extreme weight loss, changes in countenance and appearance, physical exhaustion, and/or anxiety and depression are dangerous for teens and frightening for parents. When it comes to teen eating disorders, professional support is needed.

These disorders include anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder.

Adolescents with teen eating disorders tend to be moody, anxious, and/or depressed. Indeed, most adolescents suffering from teen eating disorders will deny that they have a problem. In many cases, they’ll blame everything but their relationship to food.

Adolescents suffering from teenage eating disorders often tell a common story. Once the eating disorder takes hold, they feel trapped. Hence, they think nobody can help them.

However, as we all know, eating is a part of daily life for everyone. Therefore, the lives of adolescents with teenage eating disorders revolve around suffering. As a consequence, nothing is more important to them than obeying the twisted rules of the eating disorder. Soon, everyday thoughts and perceptions are dominated by the teen eating disorder.

Many young people struggle with eating and body image issues. But it’s important to learn how to identify the difference between these issues and a teen eating disorder.

Early intervention is crucial. Indeed, the salient goal is to address the problem in the beginning of its development, before long-term health consequences emerge. If not addressed, teen eating disorders can lead to permanent health consequences and even death.

Even when not visually apparent, an eating disorder remains life threatening. Consequently, an eating disorder requires proactive action. It cannot be ignored as a passing phase. In most cases, the longer it continues, the more dangerous the disorder becomes.

To complicate the challenge even further, children with eating disorders can be deceptive and secretive. Silently suffering, adolescents with eating disorders learn how to cover up the signs of a teen eating disorder. Very often, eating disorders hide in plain sight.

Particularly with teen eating disorders, professional support is critical. If you suspect your child suffers from an eating disorder, contact our office.