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Eating Disorders
What is eating disorder?
Any abnormal eating behaviour, often accompanied by a distorted body image.
Psychiatric eating disorders related to tension, poor nutritional habits and food fads are common eating problems amongst youngsters. In addition, they are on the increase among teenagers, especially girls. Most teenagers hide these serious and sometimes fatal disorders from their families and friends.
A combination of medication, individual and family therapy is the best form of treatment.
What are the common types of eating disorders that teens are prone to?
The 3 main eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa (anorexia), Bulimia Nervosa (bulimia) and Binge Eating Disorder (binge eating).
Why is it considered a problem with teens?
Eating disorders during adolescence may be associated with an elevated risk for a broad range of physical and mental health problems during early adulthood.
Adolescents with eating disorders are at a high risk for anxiety disorders, cardiovascular symptoms, chronic fatigue, depressive disorders, infectious diseases, insomnia, neurological symptoms, and suicide attempts during early adulthood.
When does it commonly shows signs of beginning?
Eating disorders are most likely to start during puberty when teens are dealing with bodily changes and at the same time are faced with new academic and social pressures.
Eating disorders can also take place when a teenager leaves home for the first time. Controlling food is a wrong way to counter stress or loneliness.
How to identify eating disorder symptoms in teens?
- Dry skin, brittle hair, hair loss
- Growth of fine hair on different parts of your body, i.e. face, back
- When underweight your body begins to feel cold even in warm areas
- Fatigue, dizziness
- Heart problems
- Digestion problems
Why does this type of disorder take place?
Common causes being - psychological, family and socio-cultural.
Stress could trigger the onset of eating disorders. The relationship between stress and eating disorder onset is stronger among individuals who also have other psychiatric disorders,
Teens who develop anorexia are more likely to come from families with a history of weight problems, physical illnesses, depression and alcoholism.
Although, heredity may make an adolescent prone to an eating disorder, other contributing factors are depression, peer pressure, stress, unrealistic images in the media.
How can eating disorders be treated?
- Since eating disorders involve both psychological and dietary causes, treatment involves a combination of medical help, family and individual counselling.
- Research shows that early identification and treatment leads to more successful results. Parents who notice symptoms of anorexia or bulimia in their teenagers should consult a child/adolescent psychiatrist.
- A psychologist can help identify the root causes of the eating disorder.
- Support for the treatment should come from the family. As a parent never discourage your child in anyway; it has long-term effects that can hinder his adolescent stage.