Teen Eating Disorder Symptoms

Modern society places an enormous emphasis on the importance of staying thin. Fashion models are usually over six feet tall and weigh less than 100 pounds. Virtually every advertisement displays staggeringly thin models. Many celebrities, such as Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Ritchie, carry out the skeletal trend as well.

Throughout the teenage years, it is not unusual for an adolescent female – and in some cases, a male – to fall privy to an eating disorder. Statistics reflect the majority of teens with eating disorders are women, comprising 90% of all cases. Approximately 10% of teens with eating disorders are male. Between 5 and 20 percent of teens afflicted with anorexia will die prematurely from related health complications.

Common in the event of all eating disorders – including binge eating, anorexia nervosa and bulimia — are symptoms such as:

  • A refusal to maintain a healthy body weight
  • An irrational, overbearing fear of being fat
  • An extremely distorted body image
  • Low self-esteem
  • Obsession with losing weight
  • Consistently comparing oneself to celebrities, models, and individuals perceived as thin in day-to-day life
  • Intense emotions associated with food

Barring treatment, eating disorders in teens and young adults can be fatal. Many teen hospitalizations are a result of malnourishment and emaciation caused by an eating disorder.

Parents should be cautious if the teen exhibits strong emotions around food. If meal times create anxiety for the teen, an eating disorder could be to blame. Symptoms of bulimia to look for, include:

  • Irregular or completely missing menstrual cycle
  • Dehydration
  • Fluid retention in the face and stomach
  • Recurring sore throat
  • Frequently going to the bathroom after meals and/or consistently “showering” after meals
  • Tooth decay, yellowing of the teeth
  • Putrid breath on a regular basis
  • Dry, flakey skin
  • Hair that contains an excessive amount of dead ends and is dryer than usual
  • Constipation
  • Heart arrhythmias

Over time, bulimia damages the body in a devastating way. Bulimia destroys the teeth, stomach, heart, and digestive system. It is common for family members to remain unaware of a teen’s bulimia disorder, as teens with bulimia may go to great lengths to hide the act of binging and purging. Signs of anorexia may be more noticeable to parents, depending on the individual.

The emotional impact of an eating disorder on a teen is very intense, often leading to heightened anxiety and symptoms of depression. Family members should be wary if a teen shows dramatic changes in mood or behavior. A 16-year-old girl who is usually bubbly and fun, but slowly begins withdrawing from social functions and extracurricular obligations, may be hiding a bulimia or binge eating disorder. In addition, consider investigating your concerns further if she shows the following signs:

  • Anxiety, particularly around meals, holidays, and conversations about food
  • Restlessness and agitation
  • Carrying excessive shame and/or guilt
  • Perfectionism

A teen girl with anorexia obsesses over her weight, appearance, and body image. Signs of anorexia in a teen girl include:

  • Denial that she is underweight
  • Constantly counting calories
  • Picking at food during meals, shifting food around on her plate, and secretively throwing food out in order to make others believe that she has eaten
  • Excessive exercising, particularly after meals
  • Withdrawing from social activities and events, such as a Thanksgiving event or a spaghetti benefit dinner
  • Pretending to never be hungry or feigning sick to avoid eating

It is important to talk with your teen about the unrealistic portrayal of women in the media. Open discussions regarding a healthy weight and a reasonable body image may help preclude an eating disorder in the future. Setting a positive example where a healthy balance is achieved – between exercising, eating nutritiously, and spending time on one’s appearance – is very conducive to raising a teen free of eating disorders. However, regardless of the measures parents may take to preclude an eating disorder, the causes of eating disorders are very complex. Given the intricate number of variables that contribute to an eating disorder, it is nearly impossible to preclude the chances of an eating disorder with absolute certainty.