Nine Signs of an Eating Disorder in Teens

Are you a parent of a teen and wonder if your child is suffering with teen anorexia or teen bulimia? With today's hottest magazine covers featuring some of the thinnest models on the planet and regularly using PhotoShop to visually take pounds off of celebrities who appear on their pages, it's no shock teens are feeling body image pressure in America. The awful truth is America is an image-obsessed culture, making it difficult for teens and some adults to feel comfortable with their bodies. While some body image concerns are somewhat legit, there is a fine line between being concerned about their health and a teen developing an eating disorder like teen anorexia or teen bulimia. Teen eating disorders are dangerous, both emotionally and physically.

Those who suffer with teen anorexia often go on starvation diets or eat very little each day. Those who binge and purge food they've just eaten (via vomiting, compulsive working out or laxatives) may be suffering with teen bulimia. Both teen boys and girls can suffer with these, although it's most common for girls to have a teen eating disorder.

9 Signs A Teen May Have An Eating Disorder:

• The teen becomes obsessed with food or their weight. The teen might talk often about their calorie consumption, about their weight or about food. They may know exactly how many calories are in every single item they consume.
• The teen may become obsessed with working out and may try to workout far more than a parent thinks is healthy.
• The teen might avoid eating lunch at school or may refuse to eat dinner with the family.
• The teen might start to wear baggy clothes to hide their shape.
• The teen may cut their food into incredibly tiny pieces and move it around a lot on the plate to act as if they are eating, when they really aren't consuming much.
• The teen might brag about how little they eat or seem to be competing with someone else about how little they can survive on.
• The teen might run to the bathroom a lot after or during meals.
• The teen might be very sensitive about their weight loss or eating habits.
• The teen might get caught with laxatives or diet pills.

Reacting in the best way is important if you want to help your child struggling with an eating disorder. If you know a teen who seems to have symptoms of a teen eating disorder, it's important to act quickly. Other teens who notice these symptoms in their friends should tell their parents or teachers immediately. Approaching someone with an eating disorder can be difficult and must be done with sensitivity and compassion.