EATING DISORDERS IN TEENS
Jessica Marich
For Parents of Teenagers
What is an eating disorder?
• Abnormal eating habits
• Include thoughts of weight control
• Response of stress
• Can be life threatening
Who is most likely to have an eating disorder?
• Young teens
• Mostly girls
• But boys develop eating disorders as well
Eating disorders in boys
• Mostly linked to sports
• Less likely to seek help because they are “women disease”
• Bulimic boys are more likely to exercise than to purge
Eating disorders in girls
• Girls are influenced easily
• When girls feel they are out of control of their lives they turn to
weight control
• Can be caused by child abuse
• Manage stress by restricting diet
Types of eating disorders
Binge Eating
Bulimia Nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa
•
Binge Eating Disorder
Anorexia Statistics
•
Boys
Girls
10-15% with anorexia
81% of ten year olds are afraid to
gain weight
Less likely to see help
20% of gay men are anorexic
69% 5th -12th graders body image is
influenced by magazines
20% at risk of death
Bulimia Statistics
Boys
Girls
10-15% have bulimia
Less likely to seek help
14% gay men are bulimic
50% anorexic girls become bulimic
18 times more likely from diet changes
Binge Eating Statistics
Boys
Girls
40% of people with binge eating
disorder are boys
60% of people with binge eating
disorder are girls.
Most common in girls
Signs of Anorexia Nervosa
• Thin
• Pale
• Obsessive over weight control
• Depressed
• Wont eat in front of others
Signs of Bulimia Nervosa
• Afraid to gain weight
• Disappear to bathroom after every meal
• Can have a normal body weight
• Tooth decay
• Use laxatives or diet pills
Signs of Binge Eating
• Weight gain
• Eat excessive amounts of foods
• Eat in secret
• Never feel satisfied
• Lie
Causes of eating disorders in teens
• Society/media
• Low self-esteem
• Certain sports
Consequences of eating disorders
• Dizziness
• Extreme fatigue
• Weakness
• Loss of sleep
• Loss of muscle and bone
• Depression
• Seizures
• Oral problems
How to protect your teen from an eating
disorder.
• Be a role model
• Promote healthy eating habits
• Explain how the media works
• Don’t use food as a reward or as a consequence
• Educate them
Seeking treatment
• Talk to your teen
• Schedule a check up with their doctor
• If diagnosed: seek therapy, nutritionist, or medication
Awareness
•
References
• Mayo Clinic Staff (2012 May 22) Teen eating disorders: Tips to protect
your teen. Retrieved from www.mayoclinic.org/healthyliving/tween-and-teen-health/in-depth/teen-eating-disorders
• New, Michelle. (2011 January) Eating Disorders. Retrieved from:
www.kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/poblems/eat_disorder
.html
• Bing Eating Disorder. Retrieved from:
www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/binge-eating-disorder
• (2014) Eating Disorder statistics. Retrieved from:
www.anad.org/getinformation/about-eatingdisorders/eatingdisordersstatistics/
• (2012) What is an Eating Disorder? Retrieved from:
www.northwesteren.edu/counselng/aboutus/services/eating-concerns/what-is-an-eating-disorder.html
• Farrar, Tabitha (2014) Men With eating Disorders. Retrieved from:
www.mirror-mirror.org/men.htm
• Thompson, Colleen Women and Eating Disorders. Retrieved from:
www.mirror-mirror.org/women.htm