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What is an eating disorder?

An eating disorder is a focus on food and weight that causes a person to go to extremes when it comes to food and eating. Three of the most common eating disorders are binge eating disorder, bulimia, and anorexia.

Eating disorders often develop during the teenage years or in early adulthood. They are more common among teenage girls but can affect teenage boys, too. They can be very stressful and damaging to a teen’s overall well-being. The social effects include low self‑esteem and isolation. Eating disorders can cause serious health problems that can become life threatening.

It’s not unusual for teens to change their eating habits from time to time. Some teens experiment with a different eating style (for example, a vegetarian diet) or go on a diet to lose weight. They may occasionally skip a meal. Often, these changes pass quickly. Watch your teen’s behavior and eating patterns carefully so that you can tell the difference between occasional dieting and an eating disorder.

There are many different signs and symptoms of eating disorders. Sometimes they are obvious, but not always. Often, a person will work very hard to hide an eating disorder.

Below are some signs and symptoms of binge eating disorder, bulimia, and anorexia. If you notice any of these signs and symptoms, contact your teen’s healthcare provider. They can help evaluate your teen’s specific symptoms and recommend the best way to help.

Common eating disorders

Binge eating disorder

A binge eater regularly consumes large amounts of food in a short timeframe (called bingeing) with lack of control. People who have binge eating disorder are often embarrassed by the amount of food they eat. They may hide food for binges and binge in private. People who have this disorder often try to diet without success or promise to stop eating so much. They feel they can’t control the urge to keep eating large amounts of food. As a result, they may become overweight or obese.

Symptoms of binge eating disorder

• Eating large amounts of food in a short timeframe
• Eating even when not hungry
• Eating to the point of feeling uncomfortable
• Sneaking food
• Hiding food
• Eating alone
• Eating normally during meal times, and then eating large amounts of food when others are not around
• Feeling disgusted, depressed, or guilty after eating large amounts of food

Health risks of binge eating disorder

• Weight gain
• Health conditions associated with overweight and obesity, such as:
  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Stomach problems

Bulimia

People who have bulimia eat a lot of food at once (binge). They then throw up or use laxatives to remove the food from their body (called purging). After a binge, a person who has bulimia might fast (not eat for a period of time). Or they may exercise excessively to keep from gaining weight. People who have bulimia may also use water pills, laxatives, or diet pills to “control” their weight. They often try to hide their bingeing and purging. They may hide food for binges. People who have bulimia are usually close to normal weight, but their weight may go up and down.

Symptoms of bulimia

• Sneaking food
• Hiding empty containers of food
• Skipping meals or eating only small portion sizes
• Avoiding eating around others
• Vomiting after eating
• Using water pills or laxatives
• Fasting (not eating for a period of time)
• Exercising excessively

Health risks of bulimia

• Weight gain
• Stomach problems
• Heart problems
• Kidney problems
• Dental problems
• Death, in severe cases

Anorexia

People who have anorexia are obsessed with being thin. They don’t want to eat, and they’re afraid of gaining weight. They may constantly worry about how many calories they take in or how much fat is in their food. They may take diet pills, laxatives, or water pills to lose weight. They may exercise too much. People who have anorexia usually think they’re fat even though they’re very thin. They may get so thin that they look like they’re sick.

Symptoms of anorexia

• Being very thin
• Feeling overweight in spite of being very thin
• Having fear of gaining weight
• Obsessing about food
• Constantly counting calories, carbohydrates, and fat grams
• Creating “food rituals” (for example, chewing each bite a certain number of times)
• Exercising excessively
• Using diet pills, water pills, or laxatives
• In girls, missing periods or having irregular periods
• Feeling cold all the time
• Wearing baggy clothes to hide weight loss

Health risks of anorexia

• Trouble concentrating
• Stomach problems
• Heart problems
• Kidney problems
• Osteoporosis
• Dry skin and hair
• Weakness
• Death, in severe cases

Path to improved health

If your teen has an eating disorder, the sooner you do something the better. By getting help early, your teen can prevent the health risks associated with eating disorders.

Contact your family healthcare provider. They may make several recommendations. They may want to talk with your teen. Your healthcare provider may also do medical tests to make sure a physical issue isn’t your teen’s underlying health problem. Also, a teen who has an eating disorder needs professional help to treat their body and mind. Often, teens need counseling to talk through how they feel about their weight and other issues in their life. Your healthcare provider may also want you to take your teen to see a dietitian to learn how to develop healthy eating habits.

It’s also very important to be sure your teen feels loved and supported by family and friends during treatment for an eating disorder. Feeling secure and accepted can help form a strong foundation so your teen can begin to learn new, healthier habits.

How can I talk to my teen about my concerns?

Talking to your teen about your concerns that they have an eating disorder will probably be hard. Be prepared. Your teen will probably deny that they have a problem.

Let your teen know that the discussion is not optional. Set a time to talk with your teen, and open the conversation in a loving and gentle manner. Avoid accusations or judgments, but be persistent in expressing your concerns. Talk in “I” sentences (for example, “I am concerned for you.”). Avoid “you” statements (for example, “You are sneaking food.”).

Often, it helps simply to let your teen know you are there to help and support them. Realize your teen is facing many changes and social pressures. Your main role may be to listen.

Here are some tips to help your teen develop a healthy attitude toward food and exercise:

• Provide the best example you can with your own habits for healthy eating and exercise.
• Show your teen that you accept your own body. Don’t complain about your own weight or refer to yourself as fat.
• Show acceptance for different body shapes and sizes. Don’t criticize other people’s weight or physical appearance.
• Teach your teen that the media is not real life. The media shows only thin models and “perfect” people when real people come in all shapes and sizes.
• Avoid commenting on your teen’s weight or physical appearance.
• Provide lots of healthy food options in your home.
• Talk about the benefits of physical activity to stay healthy and strong, not to lose weight.
• Build your teen’s self-esteem and self-respect. Compliment your teen on their efforts, ask for your teen’s opinion, and encourage him or her to pursue talents and interests.

Things to consider

Healthcare providers don’t know exactly what causes eating disorders. A person who has an eating disorder may feel stressed out or upset about something in their life. They may feel the need to be perfect or “in control.” Some people may be reacting to the way their body changes during puberty. Society and media images also put a lot of pressure on people to be thin. This pressure may contribute, too.

Eating habits develop very early in life. Perhaps even between the ages of 12-24 months. Parents can influence how children view food. That is why it is so important to establish good eating early in life.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

National Eating Disorder Information Centre
http://nedic.ca

Canadian Mental Health Association
http://cmha.ca

Kids Help Phone
1-800-668-6868
https://kidshelpphone.ca