Adolescent girls typically are very concerned about their body image. For some, this concern leads to extreme eating and/or exercise behavior. They may restrict the amount of food they eat and/or exercise several hours a day. For some, this may be a sign of an emerging eating disorder. These behaviors are easily overlooked, and many young people consciously keep their condition a secret from parents and friends.

Research shows that roughly 3% of adolescents struggle with some form of eating disorder, and 90% of those struggling are females (Haines & Neumark-Sztainer, 2006). Parents often are unaware of the problem until the condition seriously endangers their child’s health. This might be avoided if parents were aware of the physical and psychological warning signs of eating disorders.

• Signs may include excessive fear of weight gain, severe restriction in the type and amount of food eaten, a desire to eat alone, withdrawal from family and friends, and denial of bad eating habits (Treasure, Van Furth, & Schmidt, 2003). Physical signs include absence of the menstrual cycle, dry or brittle hair, tooth decay, decreased energy, and often, marked weight loss (Treasure et. al., 2003).

Fast intervention and treatment are keys to reducing long term health effects of eating disorders and increasing the chance of a full recovery. Parents who suspect that their child has an eating disorder should consult their primary care provider and ask for a referral to a mental health professional or an eating disorders team who will provide evaluation, diagnosis, and multi-disciplinary treatment. (Thompson, 1996).

Families that heed the warning signs and arrange for proper intervention and treatment can reduce the prolonged effects of eating disorders, and increase their child’s chance of a full recovery.

Listening, learning, and living together, it’s the science of life. “Family Album” is a co-production of University of Florida IFAS Extension, the Department of Family, Youth, and Community Sciences and of WUFT-FM. If you’d like to learn more, please visit our website at familyalbumradio.org.

• Podcast: Warnings signs of child/adolescent eating disorders, and treatment suggestions.


• Written by: Keri Pound & Amanda Mosher

References

Haines, J, Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2006). Prevention of obesity and eating disorders: a consideration of shared risk factors. Health Education Research, 1-13.

Thompson, K.J. (ed). (1996). Body image, eating disorders, and obesity: An integrative guide for assessment and treatment. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Treasure, J., Van Furth, E., & Schmidt, U. (eds). Handbook of eating disorders. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons.