Teenage years are a time of growth, identity exploration, and social pressures. For some teens, these changes can lead to unhealthy relationships with food and body image, which may lead to teenage eating disorders. Eating disorders can affect physical health, emotional well-being, and social life. Early recognition can be critical to recovery.

While some teens may worry about appearance from time to time, eating disorders involve more than just occasional body image issues or dieting. Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that require attention, support, and often professional treatment. Understanding the signs, risk factors, and available support options can make a difference in a teen’s healing journey.

What are eating disorders?

Eating disorders are serious conditions characterized by unhealthy and often extreme behaviors around food, eating, and body weight. Teens with eating disorders may try to control their weight through restrictive eating, purging, excessive exercise, or other behaviors. These disorders can lead to serious physical complications and emotional distress.

Commonly associated with body image issues, eating disorders can involve intense fear of gaining weight, frequent body-checking behaviors, and feelings of shame about eating. Some teens may also experience feeding disorders, especially if disordered eating patterns begin at a younger age.

Examples of types of eating disorders in teens

Eating disorders that can affect adolescents include:

  • Anorexia nervosa: Characterized by extreme restriction of food intake, intense fear of gaining weight, and low body weight.
  • Bulimia nervosa: Involves cycles of eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as purging, vomiting, laxative use, or excessive exercise.
  • Binge-eating disorders: Periods of overeating with feelings of loss of control.
  • Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): A disorder where teens avoid certain foods, sometimes due to sensory sensitivity, fear of choking, or other reasons.
  • Other specified feeding or eating disorders: Includes behaviors that cause distress or health problems but don’t fit neatly into the above categories.

Warning signs that a teen may have an eating disorder

Recognizing early warning signs can be helpful for healing.

  • Extreme dieting or food restriction
  • Frequent purging, use of laxatives, or excessive exercise
  • Obsessive body-checking or mirror-checking
  • Rapid weight loss or fluctuations
  • Avoidance of meals or social situations involving food
  • Preoccupation with calories or dieting trends
  • Mood changes, irritability, anxiety, or depression
  • Physical signs such as dizziness, fatigue, or fainting

Risk factors for teenage eating disorders

Several factors may increase a teen’s risk for developing an eating disorder, including:

  • Societal pressure: Teens may feel that only a certain body type is acceptable, fueled by media, peers, or cultural expectations.
  • Low self-esteem: Teens with self-doubt may use food and weight control as a way to feel empowered.
  • Participation in certain activities: Sports or arts that emphasize leanness, like wrestling, ballet, gymnastics, or running, can raise risk.
  • Personal factors: Genetics, personality traits like perfectionism, anxiety, or rigidity may contribute.
  • Family environment: Parental attitudes about dieting, appearance, or excessive criticism can influence teen eating behaviors.

Social media and eating disorders

Social media can amplify body image issues in teens. Exposure to curated feeds or images, “idealized” body types, and content promoting dieting or disordered eating behaviors may increase the risk of engaging in harmful habits. Teens may compare themselves to influencers, celebrities, or peers. Research has found that this comparison can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and low self-esteem. Encouraging media literacy, discussion about unrealistic portrayals, and critical thinking about online messaging can be helpful.

Mental health and eating disorders

Eating disorders can co-occur with other mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, borderline personality disorder (BPD), bipolar disorder, or trauma. Some teens may also engage in self-harm. Conditions like body dysmorphic disorder can intensify body image issues, making early intervention important. Addressing these co-occurring conditions alongside eating disorders can be important for recovery and healing.

Supporting a teen with an eating disorder

Parents and caregivers can play a vital role in support:

  • Encourage healthy eating habits: Eat together as a family and focus on nutrition and energy.
  • Promote body positivity: Talk about diverse body types, avoid harmful comments about appearance, and foster self-acceptance.
  • Build self-esteem in teens: Praise accomplishments, encourage hobbies, and reinforce that worth isn’t tied to appearance.
  • Discuss emotions safely: Help your teen find healthy coping strategies.
  • Model positive behavior: Avoid dieting talk, body shaming, or using food as a reward or punishment.

It’s also important to model healthy habits for your teen. If you frequently diet, use food to manage emotions, or focus heavily on weight loss, it may be harder for your teen to develop a positive relationship with food and body image. Instead, make mindful choices about your nutrition, self-care, and lifestyle, and show confidence and appreciation for your body.

Teaming up with your teen’s doctor

Your teen’s doctor can be an important partner in recognizing and providing resources for eating disorders. Routine check-ups allow the doctor to monitor growth, weight trends, BMI, and overall health. They can identify early warning signs, such as unusual changes in body mass index and nutrient deficiencies.

A doctor can also:

  • Discuss eating habits and exercise routines in a safe, confidential setting.
  • Screen for co-occurring mental health conditions like depression or anxiety.
  • Provide referrals to licensed eating disorder counselors or therapists.

Working together, parents, licensed therapists, and medical professionals can create a support system that reinforces healthy habits.

Therapy for eating disorders

Professional mental health support is often necessary for teenage eating disorders. Therapy may include:

  • Individual counseling: Helps teens explore underlying causes and build coping skills.
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT addresses negative thinking about body image, food, and self-worth.
  • Family-based therapy: Encourages families to work together to support healthy eating and communication.

Early intervention can greatly improve outcomes. A licensed eating disorder therapist can create a personalized treatment plan and guide both teens and their families through recovery.

Sometimes, medication is prescribed to treat accompanying mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. In severe cases, hospitalization might be needed.

Takeaway

Teenage eating disorders are serious but treatable conditions. Understanding the warning signs, risk factors, and ways to support your teen can help prevent long-term physical and emotional challenges. Open communication, healthy modeling, and professional support can be key to helping teens navigate recovery and build confidence, emotional resilience, and a healthy relationship with food.

If you suspect your teen is struggling with an eating disorder or body image issues, consider reaching out to a licensed therapist or healthcare provider to start the conversation. Early support can help save lives.