There is an increasing level of pressure for teens today to live up to an impossible image of perfection. Many teens resort to eating disorders in an attempt to attain the body image that is often portrayed as ideal by the media, though there are many other reasons that eating disorders develop. Eating Disorders are often associated with a person’s need to feel in control. Eating Disorders are becoming more prevalent in teen populations of females, and increasingly in male populations as well. As a parent it is important to know the warning signs of an eating disorder and the consequences of developing an eating disorder. This overview is not to alarm you, but to arm you with the information you need to make sure that your child is safe.
Some Statistics to think about:
- “1 in 5 women struggle with an eating disorder or disordered eating.”
National Institute of Mental Health's (NIMH) guide, Eating Disorders: Facts About Eating Disorders and the Search for Solutions
- “In the United States, conservative estimates indicate that after puberty, 5-10% of girls and women (that translates to 5-10 MILLION girls and women) and 1 MILLION boys and men are struggling with eating disorders including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, or borderline conditions…” (Crowther et. al., 1995 as cited on http://www.healthywithin.com/stats.htm)
- “It is estimated that currently 11% of high school students have been diagnosed with an eating disorder.”
ANAD Ten Year Study. National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. www.anad.org
- “Research suggests that about one percent (1%) of female adolescents have anorexia. That means that about one out of every one hundred young women between ten and twenty are starving themselves. “Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc. http://www.anred.com/stats.html
- “Research suggests that about four percent (4%), or four out of one hundred, college-aged women have bulimia.”Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc http://www.anred.com/stats.html
- “A rise in incidence of anorexia in young women 15-19 in each decade since 1930.” Hoek, H.W. (1995). The distribution of eating disorders. In K.D. Brownell & C.G. Fairburn (Eds.) Eating Disorders and Obesity: A Comprehensive Handbook (pp. 207-211). New York: Guilford.
What do eating disorders look like?
Anorexia Nervosa- Men and women who have Anorexia Nervosa starve their bodies- eating little or no food. Not only do people who suffer from Anorexia often limit caloric intake, they often exercise excessively to burn any calories they may have consumed.
Bulimia Nervosa- Men and women who suffer from Bulimia often eat excessive amounts of food in one sitting, consuming large amounts of calories, only to rid themselves of those calories through some form of purging (laxatives and vomiting).
Binge-Eating Disorder- Those people who have binge eating disorder often consume large amounts of food and calories in one sitting, but unlike those who have Bulimia Nervosa, they do not make attempt to purge.
Information retrieved from:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Mental Health Information Center (2003). http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/ken98-0047/default.asp#1Identifying An Eating Disorder: Knowing What to Look For…
Anorexia Nervosa
- Intense fear of gaining weight
- Cessation of menstruation
- Body weight is lower than healthy levels as regulated by the Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Is concerned with dieting and counting calories to an excessive degree
- Talks frequently about being “fat” (when that is clearly not the case)
- Denies being hungry
- Develops food rituals (lining foods up in certain ways, arranging food on one’s plate in certain ways- often instead of eating it)
- Avoids events that involve food, or even plans activities to avoid meal times
- Pulls away from friends and quits activities that were once important to them
- Excessive exercise (in effort to burn calories consumed)
- Is constantly involved in weight loss or dieting and it is obvious that there is a need to control food.
Adapted from National Eating Disorders.org (http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/p.asp?WebPage_ID=286&Profile_ID=41142).
Bulimia Nervosa
- Evidence of binge eating, including disappearance of large amounts of food in short periods of time or the existence of wrappers and containers indicating the consumption of large amounts of food.
- Evidence of purging behaviors, including frequent trips to the bathroom after
meals, signs and/or smells of vomiting, presence of wrappers or packages of
laxatives or diuretics.
- Excessive, rigid exercise regimen--despite weather, fatigue, illness, or injury, the need to “burn off” calories taken in.
- Unusual swelling of the cheeks or jaw area.
- Calluses on the back of the hands and knuckles from self-induced vomiting.
- Discoloration or staining of the teeth.
- Creation of lifestyle schedules or rituals to make time for binge-and-purge sessions.
- Withdrawal from usual friends and activities.
- In general, behaviors and attitudes indicating that weight loss, dieting, and control of food are becoming primary concerns.
Directly from National Eating Disorders.org (http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/nedaDir/files/documents/handouts/Bulimia.pdf)
Binge-Eating Disorder
- Eating large amounts of food when not physically hungry is a sign of binge eating.
- Eating much more rapidly than normal is a sign of binge eating.
- Eating until the point of feeling uncomfortably full is a sign of binge eating.
- A person with binge eating disorder may often eat alone because of shame or embarrassment.
- A person with binge eating disorder has feelings of depression, disgust, or guilt after eating.
- A person with binge eating disorder has a history of marked weight fluctuations.
Directly from The Renfrew Center (2002). http://www.renfrewcenter.com/eating-disorders-anorexia-bulimia/compulsive-overeating.asp
Health Consequences:
Anorexia Nervosa:
(taken directly from: National Eating Disorders.org (http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org)
- Abnormally slow heart rate and low blood pressure, which mean that the heart muscle is changing. The risk for heart failure rises as heart rate and blood pressure levels sink lower and lower.
- Reduction of bone density (osteoporosis), which results in dry, brittle bones.
- Muscle loss and weakness.
- Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure.
- Fainting, fatigue, and overall weakness.
- Dry hair and skin, hair loss is common.
- Growth of a downy layer of hair called lanugo all over the body, including the face, in an effort to keep the body warm.
Bulimia Nervosa:
Directly from National Eating Disorders.org (http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/nedaDir/files/documents/handouts/Bulimia.pdf
- Electrolyte imbalances that can lead to irregular heartbeats and possibly heart failure and death. Electrolyte imbalance is caused by dehydration and loss of potassium and sodium from the body as a result of purging behaviors.
- Inflammation and possible rupture of the esophagus from frequent vomiting.
- Tooth decay and staining from stomach acids released during frequent vomiting.
- Chronic irregular bowel movements and constipation as a result of laxative abuse.
- Gastric rupture is an uncommon but possible side effect of binge eating.
Binge Eating Disorder:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Obesity
- Fatigue
- Joint Pain
- Type II Diabetes
- Gallbladder Disease
- Heart Disease
Taken from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Mental Health Information Center (2003). http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/ken98-0047/default.asp#1
What You Can Do:
If you are concerned that your child may have an eating disorder contact your school counselor and local mental health agencies for assistance. Your child’s school counselor will be able to discuss these matters with your son or daughter and put you in contact with agencies who can treat your child’s eating disorder.
Resources to Access for More Information on Eating Disorders:
1) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Mental Health Information Center
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/ken98-0047/default.asp#1
2) National Eating Disorder.org
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
3) PBS Kids
http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/parents/resources/eatingdisorders.html
4) Empowered Parents Website
http://www.empoweredparents.com/pages/articles.htm