It’s a sad irony that in a country with such significant obesity, we have an emerging, but very hidden, epidemic of eating disorders among teens and young adults. When we combine wealth, entitlement, and super high expectations of perfectionism teens become at high risk for controlling their eating and food related behavior in ways that put them at risk for long-lasting medical and mental health issues. Eating disorders eventually impact the whole family – leaving parents and siblings feeling disempowered and unable to make change.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, cases of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating have been on the rise. School-aged young women and men often exhibit the following:

• 10 million women have an eating disorder
• 1 million men have an eating disorder
• 80% of Americans say they are unhappy with their appearance.
• More than half of all teenage girls and almost one-third of teenage boys skip meals, refuse to eat, smoke cigarettes, vomit, and take laxatives in an effort to control their weight and appearance
• 40% of new cases of anorexia involve female patients 15 – 19 years old.

Causes

Eating disorders are often caused or triggered by a number of events and experiences. Some students starve themselves in response to stresses or traumatic events. Others binge and purge because they believe it will help them improve their appearance. Some teens end up with eating disorders as a result of trying to enhance their athletic ability. Ultimately, it’s about control. Controlling themselves.

Here are some examples of stressors and triggers for teens:

• Teasing & Taunting: Being ridiculed can have quietly devastating effects on teens. Struggling teens may, instead of acting-out may act-in and restrict their eating as a way to change their body to fit in or as a means of punishing themselves for not being good enough (in their eyes).
• School and Academic Stress: Schools that emphasize competition and discipline can inadvertently be encouraging disordered eating by students. Competition is healthy, but obsession on grades and perfection lead to overcompensation in teens. This can influence teens to restrict eating as well as take what they think of as performance enhancing drugs (legal and illegal). This is a super bad combination.
• Competition: Highly competitive athletes in sports such as gymnastics, diving, and bodybuilding may be driven into eating disorders by compulsions to achieve athletic and appearance perfection. Another bad combination of high intensity training, food restriction and increased demands on the body.

The 7 Signs to Watch For

Parents can support their teen’s wellness by watching behavior, having regular communication, and getting help early on when they suspect there’s an issue.The following signs could indicate that a teen is struggling with an eating disorder:

1. Skipping Meals: Constantly makes excuses to skip meals. When he does sit down at the table, he eats very little.
2. Strict Dieting: She follows a highly regimented and restricted diet, allowing herself small portions of limited types of food according to a strict meal schedule.
3. Focus on Weight: He demonstrates an unhealthy focus on how much he weighs.
4. Exercise Obsessed: He becomes obsessed with exercise, and becomes hostile, defensive, or withdrawn when questioned about his eating or exercise habits.
5. Baggy Clothing: She starts wearing oversized, baggy clothes to hide her body, and becomes withdrawn and secretive about how she spends her time.
6. Dry Skin: Skin becomes super dry; the hair on his head becomes thin and brittle; and soft, downy hairs begin to grow on his torso, arms, and legs.
7. Stressed and Tired: She seems unusually fatigued or lethargic, and complains of being cold even in warm rooms and seems always on edge.

Some students who develop eating disorders are able to be treated on an outpatient basis, while others require hospitalization or a stay in a residential treatment facility. Prior to any treatment, Fonthill always recommends contacting a professional case manager to help determine the best course of treatment based on a family’s resources like time, money, and location. Eating disorder treatment requires multiple professionals working in concert with each other to ensure the most effective interventions are used and that after-care planning is established. Parents concerned about their teen should consult with their family physician, contact a school counselor, or seek assistance from a mental health professional.