Eating Disorders

Jaclyn Best

Jaclyn Best is a student journalist at Metropolitan State University in Denver.  She has written a number of investigative articles on current issues.          

It’s no secret that teenagers suffer from self-esteem and body image issues.  Two of the more prominent problems that teens face today are anorexia and bulimia.  Even more surprising, both teenage girls and boys suffer from these eating disorders.

While anorexia and bulimia are both eating disorders, each have their own specific symptoms.  Those with anorexia have an intense fear of getting fat and will do everything in their power to eat very sparingly, if at all.  People with anorexia also make a habit of over-exercising and taking diet pills.  On the other hand, individuals with bulimia binge on food, but once he or she is through eating, they will consume laxatives or force themselves to purge.  Bulimics tend to go through episodes of this kind of behavior.

Statistics continue to upset and even scare many parents.  The growing trend of extreme dieting by both genders continues to increase.  Aboutface.org lists several studies conducted over the years.  A survey conducted as recently as 2004 by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) showed that teens aged 14-18 were trying to lose weight, and approximately 29% of males and 59% of females felt they needed to change their weight.  Another study by the CDC in the same year showed that 56.2% of teenagers tried to eat less food or eat low-fat food to keep from gaining weight and 65.7% exercised for the sole purpose of losing a few pounds.

But what is as equally puzzling in these studies is that teenagers are more overweight than ever before.  Health experts believe that extreme dieting may be the cause.  While teens are dieting to “improve” their bodies, they are actually stunting their growth and possibly causing nutrient deficiencies.

The warning signs of anorexia and bulimia are hard to detect, but parents and peers can watch out for more subtle signs and behaviors such as:

• Strict dieting rules that he/she follows
• Excessive exercise
• Any use of diet pills or laxatives
• Constant trips to the bathroom after eating
• Hoarding food or bingeing on food

If you find your son, daughter or friend engaging in these kinds of behaviors, there are certain steps you can take to help support your loved one.  The first and most important step is to not comment on his or her looks.  Whether or not it is a compliment, any focus on his/her body will only cause harm.  This could possibly lead them to have more negative feelings towards themselves.  Instead, let them know that they can confide in you.  The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) believes that parents have a lot of sway and can encourage better self-esteem and positive thinking.  Perhaps the best way to do this, according to NEDA, is to set a confident example.  Teenagers are usually well aware of their parents’ attitudes about their own bodies.  By being positive about your own body, you can inspire your son or daughter to do the same.

Unfortunately, these tactics may not work for all teenagers.  If parents continue to see unhealthy behaviors, one should seek professional help immediately.  It can be difficult to discern whether or not a parent should seek help.  However, the longer one waits, the harder it will be for a loved one to overcome their eating disorder.  Encouraging your son or daughter to get a physical is a great first step to take.  It is important not only to treat his or her current problem, but a doctor may be able to discern what could be feeding their eating disorder, such as an anxiety disorder or even depression.