Signs your teen has an eating disorder

Recently there has been many cases on social media of body shaming. Teens are made to feel ashamed of their bodies and as a result, they are resorting to eating disorders or fad diets to lose weight fast. Eating disorders are common in young girls and can last into adulthood. The onset can be early in life, so knowing what to look for is crucial to recognise the problem early on so that proper treatment can be sought. Eating disorders are very serious and should be treated as early as possible. This will be the best way to find the true source of the problem and turn it around before it becomes life threatening or fatal.

What causes eating disorders

Girls often feel pressured to be skinny and attempt to maintain an unhealthy weight. This need intensifies and the weight just keeps coming off. Over time, significant damage is done to the body that is life threatening and, unfortunately sometimes fatal. Eating disorders often come from a psychological problem and lack of self-confidence. Below are 10 signs to watch for that just may help you catch a potential problem before it becomes a real issue.

1. Wearing baggy clothes

While this alone is not an indicator, it can point to this problem. The skinnier girls get, the more self-conscious they may feel about their weight. They’ll know others are noticing the changes in their bodies and will want to take steps to avoid the stares and questions. This may be especially important if your daughter has never worn baggy clothes and suddenly begins doing so.

2. Loss of hair

Hair loss could be a sign that your child has eating disorder. This is because of the malnourishment and the various changes going on in the body.

3. Secretive eating

Some people who suffer from an eating disorder starve themselves throughout the day, then purge late at night when no one else is around. A good way to monitor this is to keep track of what is in your refrigerator and pantry before going to bed at night. Then take another look in the morning to see whether or not large quantities of food are missing.

4. Scratches and cuts on the hands

If you notice cuts or scratches on your child, that is an alarm. Bulimics shove their fingers down their throats in order to gag themselves and get rid of the food they just consumed. When this occurs, it can cause cuts, which will keep getting worse over time. This will make them very noticeable as they will always be in or around the same place on the skin.

5. Tooth aches 

When weight is dropped at a rapid speed, tooth aches can occur due to a vitamin or mineral deficiency. A dentist won’t be able to pinpoint this, so be aware of complaints of tooth pain.

6. A change in eating schedule

If you notice an irregular eating pattern, try to find out why this is the case. People suffering from eating disorders often try to eat on a different schedule from others in the household.

7. Constant fatigue

While people with eating disorders usually lack energy, they have energy to go to the gym as this helps them burn calories and help maintain the low weight.

8. Exceptional coldness

Even in warmer climates, individuals who maintain a very low weight will often complain of being cold, constantly turn up the heat, and often wear several layers of clothing.

9. Counting calories

People with eating disorders take counting calories to another level- they are extreme. The foods these individuals eat will contain very few calories. Many people often keep track of calorie intake in a notebook.

10. Collecting tabloids

It is normal for girls to look for fashion inspiration in magazines but it becomes a problem when girls attempt to pattern their body types to look like these models who are size 0. Look for such tabloids in your daughter’s room and be aware of any pictures she may pin up on her wall depicting stick thin girls or women.