Eating Disorders Explained
Prevention, Support and Information
Unfortunately, eating disorders are prevalent among adolescents. It is important to be informed, as a parent, so if your child does show signs of one you can address it in the best way possible
Common Causes of Eating Disorders
- Dissatisfaction with body image
- Severe dieting
- A culture that promotes skinny over healthy
- Family has a high concern for weight
- Persistent high weight
- Depression
- Parental dieting
- Harmful peer relationships
- Early puberty
Anorexia Nervosa - starvation due to a compulsive fear of getting fat
- boys account for 10% of cases
- suffer from a severe distortion of body image
- lose between 25-50% of body weight
- menstrual period cease
- symptoms: pale skin, brittle discolored nails, fine dark hairs all over body, and sensitivity to cold
- serious side effects: kidney failure, brain damage, loss of bone mass
- only 50% fully recover
Bulimia Nervosa - binge eating followed by intentional vomiting and purging with laxitives
- causes eroded enamel and damage to throat and stomach
- more common that anorexia nervosa
- overeat at meals
- abuse laxitives
- common in impulsive adolescents
- most attempt to cry out for help
- easier to treat than anorexia
Treatment
- in severe cases hospitalization is necessary
- family therapy
- anxiety reducing medication
- support groups
- nutrition education
- appetite-control medication
I Didn't Know I Had An Eating Disorder
Berk, L. (2010). Development through the lifespan (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
Le Grange, D., O'Connor, M., Hughes, E. K., Macdonald, J., Little, K., & Olsson, C. A. (2014). Developmental antecedents of abnormal eating attitudes and behaviors in adolescence. International Journal Of Eating Disorders, 47(7), 813-824. doi:10.1002/eat.22331