As hard as it might be to accept, the presence of eating disorders among teens is not diminishing. According to Teens Health, out of every 100 teenagers, one or two suffer from an eating disorder. The complications that can result from eating disorders can make them a devastating presence in a teen's life.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders include anorexia and bulimia or some combination of the two. With either type, teens display a distorted image of their body. With anorexia, teens will have very low body weight and be obsessed with what they eat and how much they eat. These teens may hide in baggy clothing, have unusual eating habits, avoid eating in public and may appear to be controlled by food.
Bulimia, when it appears without anorexia, generally does not result in severe weight loss. The basis of bulimia is that a teen binges on large amounts of food, and then, feeling guilty about the binge, she purges the food in some way. Purging is not limited to vomiting, although this is often used. Other types of purging behaviors include excessive exercise, laxative use or diuretics.
Consequences
The consequences of teen eating disorders vary based on the severity and length of the disorder. Eating disorders can complicate symptoms of depression. Eating disorders and depression can occur together, and the eating disorder can make the depression symptoms worse, ultimately leading to suicide.
Also, because of the association between eating disorders and nutrition, they can negatively effect your teen's health. Malnutrition, which can result with anorexia, can cause irregular heartbeats, high blood pressure, heart disease, anemia, type 2 diabetes and seizures. When binging and purging is involved, teens can experience digestive problems, kidney problems and decay of their teeth. According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, a teen with anorexia is 10 times more likely to die as a result of the disorder.
Prevention
There is no surefire way to prevent your teen from developing an eating disorder, because the causes can be numerous. However, you can take certain steps to reduce the likelihood an eating disorder will develop. Help your teen develop a healthy self-esteem by praising him and rewarding him for things unrelated to his appearance. Talk with your teen about the risks of eating disorders. Give your teen the tools to effectively deal with stress, and avoid letting your problems increase his stress level. Be aware of your teen's behavior and his body image. Avoid telling your teen he is fat or is eating too much. Use your own positive body image as a role model, and avoid talking negatively about yourself.
Treatment
Treatments for teen eating disorders can occur as inpatient or outpatient therapy, and the results of treatment vary from teen-to-teen. Some teens may be able to overcome their eating disorder with one round of treatment, while others might be in and out of treatments before they prevail. An effective treatment focuses on changing the teen's habits, thoughts about food, knowledge about nutrition and treating any other underlying mental health problems. Also, medication is sometimes used as part of the treatment.
