Anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder are common eating disorders that affect teenagers disproportionately compared with the rest of the population. Eating disorder rates are exceptionally high amongst teenage girls, with young women between the ages of 13 and 18 accounting for upwards of 90% of anorexia patients in some estimates. An eating disorder is primarily a mental health disorder, though it usually causes a range of adverse physical effects or uncontrollable practices, such as severe weight loss or binge eating. The health conditions that follow these physical changes in the affected individual can often be severe, which means it’s essential to seek treatment options if you or someone you know is dealing with one of these disorders.
Understanding how an eating disorder works and where it comes from can be particularly challenging for parents. There are various risk factors and causes associated with eating disorders, but most cases come from a combination of factors rather than a single cause. Identifying the differences between anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders in teens can also be tricky for parents. If you aren’t sure what constitutes normal eating behaviors, or if you’re otherwise concerned for your teenager, it’s always best to schedule a consultation with a doctor.
Identifying Common Eating Disorders
Eating disorders and poor eating habits are unfortunately fairly common amongst adolescents between the ages of 12 and 19, particularly for teenage girls. While these conditions are something that all parents hope to avoid, it’s crucial that they know how to identify these symptoms if it affects their family. First, let’s identify the most common eating disorders, including their associated risk factors, causes, and mental or physical symptoms.
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that starts with an irrational fear of gaining weight, causing the affected individual to reduce or completely cut food intake, exercise continuously, and thereby lose considerable weight. Low body weight or BMI, accompanied by a negative body image, disinterest in eating, and exhaustion, can often be indicators of anorexia nervosa in teenagers.
The loss of vital nutrition in the affected individual that results from anorexia can then lead to other mental and physical symptoms that impair daily life, such as fatigue, dizziness or fainting, or depression. If you or someone you know exhibits signs of anorexia nervosa, it’s imperative that you seek medical assistance as soon as you are able.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is the second most common eating disorder in teenagers, behind anorexia nervosa. The affected individual experiences a similar obsession with weight gain or physical appearance, causing them to closely monitor their food intake and exercise habits at irrational, obsessive levels. However, as compared with anorexia, individuals experiencing bulimia frequently enter into sequences of binge-eating, in which they take in considerably more food than their system can handle.
Many individuals with bulimia nervosa report that the binge-eating aspect of the condition is entirely uncontrollable. Binge-eating episodes are typically followed by purging, or intentional vomiting, as a form of unhealthy weight management. Bulimia nervosa is often accompanied by intensive exercise and dieting habits similar to anorexia. The weight gain and loss that accompanies bulimia can damage the individual’s digestive system and stomach lining, and in severe cases, impair the individual’s autoimmune response to other health conditions.
Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
Individuals with binge eating disorder, or BED, have similar eating habits to those with bulimia nervosa. However, binge-eating episodes are typically not followed by the same purging or self-induced vomiting. Often, individuals with binge eating disorder are overweight or obese– though this, of course, isn’t always the case. The binge eating and general food consumption habits of the affected individual often feel uncontrollable, which can, in turn, lead to severe mental side effects, self-disgust, intense shame, or depression. If you or someone you know may have a binge eating disorder, it’s essential to overcome these feelings and seek professional medical assistance.
While anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating disorder are the most common forms of an eating disorder in teenagers, you should also be aware of several other types of similar conditions if they relate to your teenager. For more information, see this guide to common eating disorders.
Risk Factors and Causes
Eating disorders are rarely caused by a single source or risk factor. While there is no single proven cause of eating disorders, psychological and biological factors still affect its development- some of which are exclusive to teenagers.
Family History
Many studies indicate that family history may factor into the development of an eating disorder. A close relative with such a condition, such as a parent or a sibling, may increase the chances of developing anorexia, binge eating disorder, or bulimia.
Dissatisfaction With Body Image
For teenagers, dissatisfaction with body image is far from uncommon. Low levels of self-esteem that accompany this self-image often lead individuals to seek changes to either their diet or their exercise habits. An obsession with making these changes is one of the mental symptoms of an eating disorder, while the physical changes that follow, causing the individual to drop weight at an extreme rate, are a telltale sign of the same condition. For parents wondering about the impacts of social media on eating disorders: platforms such as Instagram and TikTok may change self-perception and body image, but they are not a direct cause of eating disorders.
Traumatic Event or Shame
A traumatic event causing shame related to body image can also be a triggering factor for an eating disorder, though it’s unlikely to be the sole cause. The impact of such an event depends on a variety of other mental health conditions, such as social anxiety. Hyperactive or obsessive changes to exercise and diet habits may result from these events, which may signify an eating disorder.
Seeking Care
If you, your child, or someone you know is suffering from the effects of an eating disorder, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. The mental and physical impact of such a disorder can disrupt the individual’s life, both at home and at school. A doctor can help you find the therapeutic, or in some cases, residential treatment options necessary for a full recovery.
