How to Identify Eating Disorders in Teens
By Joan Zhang
Clinically Reviewed by Sehrish Ali, PhD, LPC, CEDS
How to Identify Eating Disorders in Teens
Perhaps you’re here because you already suspect there’s a problem. Perhaps you’ve simply been stuck in the media wormhole of distressing articles about the growing mental health crisis among teenagers and the negative impact social media is having on their body image. Either way, you’re in the right place.
Read on for all the major signs to watch out for when identifying eating disorders in teens, common risk factors, and how parents and guardians can approach recovery.
Understanding the Signs of Eating Disorders in Teens
Eating disorders are the third most common chronic illness among adolescents, but it can still be challenging for teens and their loved ones to know if they’re struggling.
Instead, it’s about paying attention to both small and big changes, and noticing when these changes start to pile up:
Physical Signs
Some of the most common physical symptoms associated with eating disorders in teenagers aren’t that different from adults. These include:
- Noticeable and/or rapid weight loss or gain.
- Changes in skin texture or color.
- Hair loss.
- Fatigue.
- Dizziness.
- Losing menstrual cycle regularity.
There are subtler changes that can flag issues too. For example, a teen with bulimia might experience frequent sore throats or a decline in dental health due to vomiting, while a teen with anorexia may become very intolerable to the cold.
Behavioral Indicators
This is where parents and teachers of teenagers generally need to be most vigilant as some of the earliest indicators of an eating disorder manifest through behavioral shifts. Here’s what to look out for:
- Excessive dieting, calorie counting, and restrictiveness related to food.
- Compulsive and excessive exercise.
- Secretive eating.
- Skipping meals or insisting on very rigid eating schedules.
- Disappearing after meals or spending an unusually long time in the bathroom.
- Cooking for others but not eating what they’ve made.
- Withdrawal from social activities.
Emotional and Psychological Red Flags
Hormonal and developmental changes pretty much guarantee teenage mood swings. Big feelings don’t necessarily mean there’s a problem but certain emotional and psychological changes can be red flags for an eating disorder, such as:
- Increased focus on food, weight, and “clean eating”.
- Displaying guilt or disgust with themselves after eating.
- Extreme perfectionist tendencies.
- Distorted body image.
Alongside these more specifically eating disorder symptoms, you may also notice an uptick in:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Drastic mood swings
- Irritability
Risk Factors for Eating Disorders in Teens
Most people with an eating disorder will experience onset by 18. Considering how tough teenhood is, this isn’t surprising, but certain risk factors make some teens more vulnerable than others. Noting these can help parents and guardians intervene sooner and even prevent eating disorder onset:
Societal and Cultural Influences
The media that teens consume, as well as the people they’re surrounded by, can be hugely influential. These factors can directly lead to an eating disorder through the proliferation of unrealistic beauty standards, but even general bullying at school or stress from social media overuse can contribute.
Family History and Genetics
It’s important not to blame yourself or family members if your teen develops an eating disorder. Eating disorders are complex and there are many factors across biological, psychological, social, and environmental that can increase risk. Research on this is still developing but there does seem to be a genetic link to eating disorders. If there is a history of it in your family, it’s worth using it as an opportunity to have open conversations about the issue and get to the heart of things so that the pattern doesn’t necessarily repeat.
Personality Traits
There has been some research that indicates correlation between key personality traits and the risk for developing an eating disorder. Some of these personality traits include:
- High levels of perfectionism
- High levels of anxiety
- High levels of impulsivity
- Obsessive-compulsive tendencies
- Low self-esteem or a propensity to be very self-critical
It is unlikely that having any one of these risk factors will predispose a teen to eating disorders. Understanding the different dimensions & risk factors can open up space for honest conversations within the family to hopefully prevent the onset of disordered eating behaviors.
How to Approach Your Teen if You Suspect an Eating Disorder
This is perhaps the hardest thing for any parent or guardian. If you suspect your teen is dealing with an eating disorder, how do you approach them without causing unnecessary anguish? We have a few key tips that can help ease this difficult task:
Starting the Conversation
The first thing to note is that shame or judgment will only make your teen more defensive so try as much as possible to lead with compassion. Express your concern, of course, but buffer it with a sense of understanding that reassures them that you’re on the same team.
Where you have the conversation matters too. Stick to a safe, relaxed environment where your teen will feel comfortable sharing their feelings. Another good tip is to use open-ended questions as much as possible as it will make the conversation feel less like an interrogation.
Seeking Professional Help
If you suspect your teen has an eating disorder, seek professional assistance. You don’t need to wait until you’re 100% certain to warrant a consult. A healthcare provider specializing in adolescent mental health and eating disorders can give you clarity on how to approach initial conversations with your teen and develop a recovery plan if needed.
The first place to start is with a licensed therapist. You can also seek support from a dietitian and psychiatrist.
Supporting Your Teen Through Recovery
Adolescent eating disorder treatment requires significant support at home and from healthcare providers. Here’s how you can support your teen through recovery:
Creating a Supportive Home Environment
Everyone requires slightly different care depending on their exact diagnosis or vulnerabilities, but here are some general tips for creating a supporting home environment for a teen in eating disorder recovery:
- Foster a positive home environment that emphasizes health and well-being over appearance.
- Encourage open communication about food, body image, and mental health.
- Work together as a family to establish healthy, stress-free eating habits.
Working with Healthcare Providers
Adolescent eating disorder treatment works best when parents collaborate with healthcare providers and take an interest in things. Attend therapy sessions where possible, finesse schedules to make sure the teen gets to appointments, and continue to show up for them the same way you would for any other important part of their lives.
For example, in the same way that kids often need help with their homework, a teen in recovery benefits from having someone checking in on their recommended treatment strategies and helping them follow through. Your encouragement also matters. Just like you’d cheer for your teen at a sports game, make sure you’re cheering them on through the healing process. Your support and understanding will make the challenge of recovery so much easier to bear.
Arise’s Approach to Eating Disorder Treatment
At Arise, we take an approach to adolescent eating disorder treatment that incorporates both the teen’s well-being and the family’s. Here’s how:
Flexible and Personalized Care
We don’t insist on any mandatory time commitments and instead like to keep things flexible so that teens can participate in recovery without added stress. They’re busy, the family’s busy – we try as much as possible to make it easy for the teens themselves, and their parents and guardians, to engage in support groups without interfering with work or school schedules.
Collaborative and Comprehensive Care
At Arise, teens and their families get access to a multidisciplinary team of care advocates, therapists, dietitians, psychiatrists, and physicians. This holistic approach ensures that each teen receives personalized care that addresses all sides of their disorder.
Compassionate and Supportive Environment
As challenging as recovery can be, it’s also vital that teens feel empowered throughout the process. We’ve found that the best way to do that is by creating a compassionate, supportive environment. We also offer dedicated support groups for teens and their families so that everyone has access to safe spaces in which to share their experiences, receive professional guidance, and strengthen their support networks.
If you suspect your teen has an eating disorder, we’re here to help. Chat with our team right here to get a better sense of what to do next and the support we can offer.