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Does my teen have an eating disorder?

Eating disorders often develop in adolescence. Many teens are trying to have the perfect body or have an unrealistic perspective of how they look. Eating disorders may start as a diet or often young girls are fascinated with the idea of being anorexic. Anorexia is glamorized in the media. Teen girls may become intrigued by the idea of could they do it. Could they get that thin?

Sometimes it is about being drawn to the idea of being anorexic and sometimes it is about a diet that has turned into an obsession. There are many warning signs to look for if you think your teen may be developing an eating disorder. Keep in mind that you can not determine this simply by looking at your teen. Not all teens suffering from eating disorders will appear under weight. This does not mean that there is not a reason to be concerned. Here are the signs and symptoms to look for if you think your teen has an eating disorder.

Eating Disorder Signs and Symptoms:

Dramatic weight loss, or being 15 percent under the normal weight for height
Obsession with weight, always talking about food or what they eat
Stepping on the scale a lot
Not eating in front of people. Many anorexics will say they have eaten when they have not.
Using the bathroom shortly after eating.
Problems with sore throats
Smelling like vomit or flushing the toilet twice.
Broken blood vessels in the eyes
Insomnia
Drinking excessive amounts of water
Chewing gum constantly or sugar free candy
Being obsessive about what they eat, cutting out certain food groups, or eating only certain foods.
Drinking excessive amounts of caffeine or taking caffeine pills
Exercising excessively
Binge eating but not gaining weight
Lies about being hungry
Skips meals
Keeps a food diary or exercise diary
Use of diet pills or laxatives
Hiding food (may hide food for binging or food that she pretended to eat)
Avoids social settings where she would be expected to eat
Visiting ana/mia websites (ana and mia are nicknames for anorexia and bulimia) there are communities on the internet where people with eating disorders share tips and encourage each other to be anorexic or bulimic.
Frequently complaining about being cold or having to wear sweaters
Not having a menstrual period.
Mood swings or irritability.
Fatigue and depression
Not wanting to be friends with thin people, always having friends that are heavier than them. Or only having friends that are thin.

If you suspect that your teen is having problems with an eating disorder it is important that you get treatment. The longer your teen goes with this condition the harder it is to treat. Talk to your doctor or pediatrician about treatment options. Also talk to your teen about what you are seeing. She may secretly be waiting for you to notice and get her help. Don't be surprised if she denies there is a problem. Follow your heart on this, if you suspect there is a problem, there probably is. Get professional help. Treatment is available.

Body Issues and Self Esteem

Tween and Teen Health

Anorexia

Bulimia

Eating Disorders

self esteem

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Does my teen have an eating disorder?