Does your teen have unusual eating habits? Do they appear to be losing weight or refuse to eat around other people? If so, they’ll be experiencing an disorder . there’s no single source that causes eating disorders in teens, but there are various factors which will put them more in danger of developing this relatively common disorder.
Here, we’re taking a better check out eating disorders—specifically in teens—to better understand this common psychological state issue. We then detail common warning signs which will assist you identify if your teen is experiencing an disorder and what you’ll do about it.
WHAT IS AN EATING DISORDER?
According to the American Psychiatric Association, eating disorders are “behavioral conditions characterized by severe and protracted disturbances in eating behaviors and associated thoughts and emotions.” While many of us only see extreme dieting and weight loss as an disorder , binge eating also falls under this category. generally terms, an disorder occurs when someone features a prolonged unhealthy relationship with food.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF EATING DISORDERS
Doctors have classified three primary sorts of eating disorders: anorexia , bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorders.
Here’s a better check out each of those unique sorts of eating disorder:
1. Anorexia nervosa: this disorder is characterized by extreme weight loss when a private essentially starves their body. Driven by an intense fear of gaining weight, those with anorexia may dramatically limit their caloric intake while consistently understanding .
2. Bulimia nervosa: those with bulimia nervosa tend to swing between extreme sorts of eating. They’ll alternate between binge eating periods (eating an outsized amount of food during a short amount of time) with periods of extremely limiting their caloric intake (whether by eating less, vomiting, or completely fasting). Those experiencing bulimia nervosa might not appear underweight in the least .
3. Binge eating disorders: almost like bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorders are characterized by periods of overeating. However, unlike bulimia nervosa, they are doing not oscillate between binge eating and periods of purging. this will cause serious health conditions, like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
WHO IS MOST in danger OF DEVELOPING AN EATING DISORDER?
While anyone, no matter their age, race, or nationality, can develop an disorder , teens tend to be even more susceptible. Additionally, girls are at a better risk of experiencing an disorder compared to boys. there’s no exact reason for this increased risk in children , but researchers suggest that puberty and body changes, peer pressure, and therefore the inability to effectively affect stress and anxiety could all play a task . In most societies, girls have far more pressure than boys to take care of a “perfect” somatotype that they see nonstop within the media.
WHAT CAUSES a teenager EATING DISORDER?
There are many unique causes of eating disorders in teens. In many cases, it’s challenging to pin down and identify the first cause because there are several factors resulting in this behavioral issue. Most causes for teen eating disorders are often divided into one among the subsequent three categories: physical factor, psychological factor, or environmental factor. Of course, these factors are often intimately linked.
Physical factors which will cause eating disorders include improper dieting practices and hormonal changes. for several teens, the unpredictable changes brought on by puberty (especially physical changes) can spark an disorder . Like many other behavioral disorders, genetics can increase the danger of developing an disorder .
Many teens with eating disorders even have mood or behavioral disorders that affect their relationship with food. Anxiety, stress, and depression have all been related to the formation of eating disorders. Teens especially might not have the knowledge or resources to affect the added stress and anxiety.
Additional psychological factors are presented a day within the media as teens receive messages about the importance of getting the “perfect” body. to realize the design of a supermodel (a somatotype that simply isn’t attainable for many people) teens may starve themselves or compute excessively, which over time can cause serious harm to their bodies.
DOES MY TEEN HAVE AN EATING DISORDER?
It are often challenging to work out whether or not your teen has an disorder . Especially during these youth crammed with hormones and new experiences, teens may change their diets or tastes for a spread of reasons. This doesn’t mean they need an disorder .
So, how does one know? presumably , your teen won’t come up to you and tell you, which is why it’s important to offer them time, energy, and a spotlight so you’ll be ready to identify any clear changes in their habits and behaviors. While each disorder is exclusive , there are several common warning signs to remember of. These signs include the following:
· Skips meals.
· Hides food.
· Never seems hungry.
· Excessive exercise.
· Body insecurity.
· Disappears after meals.
· Avoids eating publicly .
· Wears baggy clothes to disguise weight loss.
· Unusually rigid eating habits.
WHAT am i able to DO IF MY TEEN HAS AN EATING DISORDER?
If you think your teen is experiencing an eating disorder—don’t panic. Eating disorders are, regrettably, a comparatively common behavioral disorder. More importantly, they’re very treatable if you’re ready to address the source of the disorder.
Sit down together with your teen and be the one to start out the conversation. In most cases, they won’t come to you as they’ll be struggling to know the disorder also . Come from an area of honesty, openness, and compassion. Never accuse them of getting a “problem,” but rather, allow them to know that this is often a disorder that a lot of teens experience.
If your teen is willing, schedule a meeting together with your doctor for an entire diagnosis. this may allow a medical professional to form a recommendation for the foremost effective treatment, whether that involves psychotherapy, group psychotherapy , or admittance to a residential teen treatment center.
