Roughly 2-3% of teens between the ages of 13 and 17 suffer from an eating disorder. As a serious, sometimes fatal illness that is often linked to mental health, it’s crucial for parents to know the signs. They should also maintain a relationship with their child’s primary care clinic so their teenager has access to health care professionals. With this in mind, the guide below explores some of these conditions and the available treatment options.  

What Are Common Eating Disorders?

The three most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating. Individuals who struggle with anorexia reduce their food intake significantly in an effort to maintain a thin figure. This disorder is also defined by distorted body image and an intense fear of gaining weight.

Bulimia nervosa, in contrast, is characterized by binge eating a large volume of food in a short period of time and trying to compensate for that action by vomiting, taking laxatives, engaging in extreme exercise, or fasting. A binge eating disorder involves on-going episodes in which an individual eats excessively as a way to establish control or find comfort. This action is not followed by purging or extreme exercise, so patients with this condition can become overweight or obese. 

What Signs Should Parents Look For?

Parents are encouraged to pay attention to their teenager’s eating habits and relationship to food. Signs they are struggling with an eating disorder could start with avoiding family meals, adhering to a strict diet plan, food going missing from the house, or an obsession with cooking and measuring quantities. 

Other tell-tale signs of eating disorders include weight loss or weight gain, hyper-focus on their outward appearance, commitment to constant exercise and training, or negative mood or behavioral changes, such as irritability, social isolation, or bad grades. 

How Can Your Primary Care Clinic Help?

When a child exhibits any of the signs noted above, parents should address the issue in a loving and compassionate manner in hopes of starting a healthy dialogue. Scheduling an annual physical at your primary care clinic is highly recommended, not just as preventative care, but so your health care provider can track your teenager’s weight and overall health.

This process can open up the conversation further and help identify any issues in terms of diet and exercise. Your doctor can also provide referrals to nutritionists and mental health professionals to improve your child’s relationship to food, so they can make positive strides toward healthy body image. 

If you’re a parent in the greater Mid-Willamette Valley area of Oregon concerned that your teenager may have an eating disorder, Santiam Hospital has the resources to help. Since opening in 1953, this network of preventative and specialized care facilities has helped patients maintain health and happiness. Call today at (503) 769-2175 to schedule an appointment at their primary care clinic. Visit their website for more information on their departments and commitment to compassionate and effective care.