Adolescent Eating Disorders: Identifying Signs, Root Causes, and Strategies for Support
Eating disorders can have a significant impact on the physical and mental health of teenagers. These conditions, which include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), require prompt attention and treatment.
Common Symptoms and Early Detection
For early recognition, it's essential to watch for behavioural and physical signs that vary by disorder but often include:
- Anorexia nervosa: Extreme restriction of food intake, intense fear of gaining weight, distorted body image, sudden weight loss, withdrawal from friends, excessive exercise, mood changes, delayed puberty, and physical signs like fine body hair (lanugo).
- Bulimia nervosa: Recurrent binge eating followed by purging behaviours such as self-induced vomiting, laxative or diuretic abuse, excessive exercise, damage to fingers/throat/teeth, malnutrition, and secretive eating.
- Binge-eating disorder: Frequent binge eating episodes without compensatory behaviours, sudden weight changes, dieting without loss, and low self-esteem.
- ARFID: While not detailed in the search results, ARFID typically involves restrictive eating that leads to nutritional deficiency or weight loss without body image disturbance; signs include avoidance of certain foods or textures due to sensory issues or fear of adverse consequences.
Additional general warning signs include skipping meals, eating in secret, preoccupation with calories or weight, mood swings, withdrawal from school or social activities, and physical complaints like stomach pain without clear cause.
Causes
Teen eating disorders often arise from a complex interaction of factors including internal stressors (such as school or social pressures), psychological issues, family dynamics, and biological vulnerabilities. School-related stress, in particular, can exacerbate or trigger symptoms in vulnerable adolescents.
Treatment Methods
Early intervention is critical to improving outcomes and preventing progression. Effective treatment approaches include:
- Medical and nutritional stabilization: Address immediate health risks like malnutrition and medical complications.
- Psychotherapy: Evidence-based therapies such as Family-Based Therapy (FBT) for adolescents are effective, particularly for anorexia and bulimia. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is also commonly used for bulimia and binge-eating disorder.
- Outpatient care with support: Most teens transition from inpatient or partial hospitalization programs to outpatient care, where consistent monitoring prevents relapse and crisis.
- Parental involvement and education: Parents can facilitate early detection through vigilance for warning signs and constructive communication about eating behaviours and treatment, helping teens overcome stigma and secrecy.
- Multidisciplinary approach: Coordinated care involving medical, nutritional, and mental health professionals ensures comprehensive treatment.
In summary, recognising early signs such as drastic eating changes, mood shifts, and withdrawal, understanding the multifactorial causes including stress, and implementing prompt, evidence-based interventions involving medical care and psychotherapy are the most effective strategies for addressing anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and ARFID in teenagers.
