Warning Signs Of Teen Eating Disorders

As parents, you need to be aware about the increasing number of cases of teen eating disorders nowadays. Teens fall into the age group that is very vulnerable to the attraction of looking good. However, when they start to obsess over their body shape, they are at risk of developing an eating disorder. Teen eating disorders can be very dangerous, simply because the bodies of your teenagers are still growing and the impact of an eating disorder can have vast consequences about their proper development.

There are various reasons why teen eating disorders are becoming so common nowadays. Influences from the media are partly to blame. A constant bombardment of how the media projects its perception of what is considered good looking has an impact of how your teenager thinks. During adolescence, teens also tend to focus on their physical appearance, including the body, in order to attract members of the opposite sex. Thoughts of inadequacy can cause your teen to want to gain control over the weight or body, thus putting him or her at risk.

Most teens say that control is a main thing that they are looking for. Some take being able to control their weight is taken as a way of taking control of their life. This control issue can become an excessive focus upon their food intake and exercise level.

Two teen eating disorders are usually diagnosed. Each one of them is characterized by slightly different symptoms, but they still are a means of gaining control over their body and weight.

1. Bulimia refers to a condition whereby the patient to go through periods of eating way excessively, followed by purging to remove the food from their bodies due to guilt from having eating too much. The purging can involve many methods such as vomiting, enemas, taking laxatives, fasting, etc. Purging is undertaken as the patient does not want his or her body to absorb the nutrients and put on weight. This eating disorder can cause many different symptoms, including visiting the bathroom after meals, using medications to control weight, withdrawal from friends and family, high consciousness concerning the body and weight, amongst others.

2. Anorexia nervosa refers to an excessive obsession with dieting and exercising to cause extreme weight loss. Aneroxic patients usually prefer to hide their weight loss, which is why parents of the patients fail to detect them. Some of the most common symptoms include skipping meals, finding excuses to eat alone, refusal to stay at or near the normal body weight for the age and height of the patient, excessive exercise, wearing baggy clothing to hide weight loss, etc.

Teen eating disorders can be fatal, in the event that no treatment is sought. Unfortunately, most teens would prefer not to tell their parents or someone senior about their obsessive behavior and bizarre eating habits and behavior. It is to your benefit that you find out what warning signs to look out for, so that you can take appropriate action to deal with teen eating disorders.