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Signs My Child is Developing an Eating Disorder
It can be difficult to tell whether or not a child is developing an eating disorder, especially as they become adolescents.
Eating disorders are often ‘secretive’ disorders wherein sufferers may keep their struggles to themselves. So, it is essential for parents and family members to be aware of eating disorder signs & symptoms.
Early Indications of Developing an Eating Disorder
1. The sufferer starts to comment about their weight, body shape, and size.
Many individuals start having concerns about their body during their pre-teen and teen years, specifically around the age of 9 or 10 [2]. During this time, people start to become more conscious about their body shape/size and may notice differences from the “status quo.”
They may wonder what their body is supposed to look like, what they should weigh and question how their body compares to their peers. Often this is where it starts. When you hear your child or teen repeatedly compare his or her physical self to others, it may be a matter of concern.
2. The person’s eating patterns change noticeably.
Oftentimes, when a teen starts to engage in disordered eating behaviors, it begins with diet patterns and behavior. You may notice a shift in meal choices, whether they say they want to start being vegetarian or they want to start eating healthier.
These individuals may show a heightened interest in diet and weight loss. They could be scared of the effects of specific foods and believe that they can lose weight if they follow a particular diet.
This might be an opportunity to arrange a meeting with a nutritionist and/or therapist in order to provide a discussion of weight, nutrition and body image with a trained professional who can provide unbiased guidance to your teen or child.
3. The individual starts exercising excessively.
You may notice that your child is interested in exercising frequently and more intensely. If they have been playing sports in the past, this may not seem unusual at first, but they may appear to be exercising more than their “normal.”
In more severe cases, your child might be more prone to injuries or fractures from overuse. This can happen to individuals whether or not they have been involved in extreme sports.
4. The sufferer is caught hiding or hoarding food.
Some teens who struggle with Bulimia Nervosa or Binge Eating Disorder tend to hoard or hide food in their room, car, or other areas of the house. Binge episodes are usually done in secret and could be followed by feelings of embarrassment, guilt, and shame.
Teens struggling with Bulimia may also have hidden vomit bags in various places. This now becomes an alarming cause for concern, and it is crucial that you talk to your child and get all the necessary assessments and treatment immediately.
5. The person experiences irregularities in menstrual cycles (for females) or puberty issues in both males and females.
For individuals in their pre-teen and teen stages of development, an irregularity in puberty development can be a sign of an eating disorder.
In the case of females, the absence of their menstrual cycle for three consecutive months or more can also be a sign of an eating disorder.
Have them checked by your primary physician or schedule an appointment with an eating disorder specialist. Discuss your concerns frankly with the professionals and seek their assessment and guidance.
6. The individual undergoes noticeable and unusual weight changes or loss.
As a parent, you may notice abnormal or unusual weight changes in your child when an eating disorder is starting to develop or has already progressed [3]. Children typically gain weight as they grow, oftentimes in a predictable way. When they begin to deviate from “normal” weight gain or loss patterns, this can be a warning sign.
7. The sufferer starts avoiding family meal gatherings.
Some children tend to avoid family meals and either refuse to eat or ask to eat in their bedroom [3]. Some children may refuse to eat meals that they usually enjoy or avoid eating in front of others. They may pick apart their plate of food and stall rather than actually eat it.
Other signs to look out for are (1) an excessive concern for what is in their food or how the food was prepared, such as whether or not the cook used butter or oil, whether or not it was baked or fried, and (2) an obsession with portion sizes. Family members may also notice that their child is now obsessively concerned about food nutrition labels or they may want to do the cooking and shopping themselves.
Signs of Mental Illness
Children who are developing an eating disorder also start to show signs of mental illness. Such symptoms could be depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and other mental health disorders [4]. You may begin to notice that your child has undergone personality changes and is often irritable or moody.
They may get angry or anxious when they are surprised with food or gatherings around meals. Teens may even start to isolate themselves socially from family and friends. They may begin to show less interest in activities they once enjoyed and may take less interest in personal hygiene.
Anxiety symptoms can include certain physical signs like excessive crying, jittery behavior, constant movement, as well as tapping or moving their hands or feet [4].
How Can You Help Your Child?
As parents, understanding some of the signs and symptoms of eating disorders and disordered eating patterns is very important. This could help with early detection and treatment. This early intervention could be an enormous help in their recovery journey.
It is essential to bring your children to the right physician, therapist, and nutritionist during the assessment phase. Residential eating disorder treatment facilities can offer assessments and treatment recommendations.
Outpatient centers with eating disorder treatment teams can also provide proper evaluations and recommendations.
Schedule psychological and nutritional counseling for your child. This can help both your child and your family.
Treatment teams can assist with coping skills, help determine underlying issues that might be affecting disordered patterns, and help establish healthy lifestyle patterns.
Ultimately, having a conversation with your child is still the best way to know what is happening. Use your intuition. Yes, the process of learning how to identify eating disorders can be tricky, but manageable through proper education.
Talk with professionals to help ease concerns, manage expectations and offer your child the tools and team to help them overcome disordered eating and body image issues.
Cited Sources:
[1] Maudsley Parents. (n.d.). Retrieved February 06, 2018, from http://www.maudsleyparents.org/faqs.html [2] What You Should Know About Anorexia Nervosa. (n.d.). Retrieved February 06, 2018, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/pediatrics/anorexia_nervosa_in_children_90,P02554 [3] 8 Silent Signs of Eating Disorders in Children. (n.d.). Retrieved February 06, 2018, from https://www.waldeneatingdisorders.com/8-silent-signs-of-eating-disorders-in-children/ [4] Farrar, T. (2014). Eating Disorders in Children. Retrieved February 06, 2018, from https://www.mirror-mirror.org/child.htm
About the Author: Libby Lyons, MSW, LCSW, CEDS has been practicing in the field of eating disorders, addictions, depression, anxiety, and other comorbid issues in various agencies. Libby has previously worked as a contractor for the United States Air Force Domestic Violence Program, Saint Louis University Student Health and Counseling, Saint Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute Eating Disorders Program, and has been in Private Practice.
Libby currently works as a counselor at Fontbonne University and is an Adjunct Professor at Saint Louis University, and is a contributing author for Addiction Hope and Eating Disorder Hope. Libby lives in the St. Louis area with her husband and two daughters. She enjoys spending time with her family, running, and watching movies.
The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective on 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 November 6, 2018.
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.
