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Binge Eating Disorder & Teens – What You Need to Know
Contributed by Canopy Cove
Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is an eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of binge-eating without regular use of compensatory behaviors. BED is the most common eating disorder in the United States and is experienced by an estimated 2.8 million people
This harrowing disorder presents in approximately 20% to 30% of adolescents, and one study found that 45% of adolescents surveyed had engaged in Binge Eating behaviors in their lives [1].
Each disorder varies in how it impacts the individual, and this particularly changes when a disorder presents in an adolescent as opposed to an adult.
There are a few essential aspects of BED symptoms, psychology, and treatment in teens that are important to consider.
Threshold for Binge Eating Disorder and Teens
BED is considered on two levels, or thresholds, and this can impact diagnosis.
- Subthreshold BED is “characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating with an average frequency of once per week during the past six months [1].”
- Full-Threshold BED changes these diagnostic requirements to binge eating occurring at least twice per week.
This is important to consider regarding adolescent experiences of BED, as few adolescents meet full-threshold BED requirements while 20% to 30% meet the criteria for sub-threshold BED [1].
This is important because not meeting full criteria can result in a missed diagnosis or lack of insurance coverage, therefore creating a barrier to treatment that could result in worsening of the disorder or more deeply ingrained disordered behaviors.
Precipitating Factors
While many of the risk factors for BED in adolescents are the same as BED in adults, one study found an interesting connection between perceived “expressed emotion” and teen BED diagnoses.
“Expressed emotion” is defined as, “how much criticism, emotional over-involvement, and warmth a close relative expresses when speaking about” an individual [2]. This can commonly be a predictor of clinical outcome with many eating disorders.
When examined regarding BED and adolescents, the study found that the teen’s perceptions of maternal criticism or warmth, as well as the emotional atmosphere of the home, “are characteristic of adolescent BED [2].”
This lends statistical support to the idea that parental treatment and attitudes toward a child, as well as the home environment, can be important factors in eating disorder development.
Co-Occurring Mental Illness
Studies indicate that teens diagnosed with BED experience higher levels of emotional distress, disturbed eating, and depressive and anxiety symptoms [1].
As such, it is essential to be aware of the emotional experiences of your teen, even if they aren’t currently displaying eating disordered symptoms.
Communication with Binge Eating Disorder and Teens
All of this science is important, but, above, all, it is crucial for individuals interacting with teens to place importance on communication.
Be open, authentic, and communicative with your teen regarding what they are experiencing emotionally and physically as they grow and mature.
One last thing, communicating does not mean you will, or have to, understand. However, it does mean that every interaction should be approached with non-judgment and empathy above all else.
References:
[1] Glasofer, D. et al. (2007). Binge eating in overweight treatment-seeking adolescents. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 32:2, 95-105. [2] Schmidt, R., Tetzlaff, A., Hillbert, A. (2015). Perceived expressed emotion in adolescents with binge-eating disorder. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 43, 1369-1377.About Our Sponsor:
Canopy Cove Eating Disorder Treatment Center is a leading residential Eating Disorder Treatment Center with 25 years’ of experience treating adults and teens who are seeking lasting recovery from Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder and other related eating disorders.
About the Author:
Margot Rittenhouse, MS, PLPC, NCC, is a therapist who is passionate about providing mental health support to all in need and has worked with clients with substance abuse issues, eating disorders, domestic violence victims, offenders, and severely mentally ill youth.
As a freelance writer for Eating Disorder Hope and Addiction Hope and a mentor with MentorConnect, Margot is a passionate eating disorder advocate committed to de-stigmatizing these illnesses while showing support for those struggling through mentoring, writing, and volunteering. Margot has a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Johns Hopkins University.
The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope but an effort to offer a discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.
We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.
Published on December 13, 2018.
Reviewed & Approved on April 12, 2024, by Baxter Ekern, MBA
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com
The EatingDisorderHope.com editorial team comprises experienced writers, editors, and medical reviewers specializing in eating disorders, treatment, and mental and behavioral health.
