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Eating Disorder Among Teens
Introduction
Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, are psychological disorders that involve extreme disturbances in eating behaviour.
You can rest assured that at Skooc, you and your family are in good hands.
Symptoms
Keep a lookout for some of the following signs of an eating disorder in your teenager:
Teens with eating disorders are often in denial that anything is wrong. They may withdraw from friends and become overly sensitive to criticism. Symptoms of eating disorders may include the following:
A distorted body image
Unusual eating habits (such as eating thousands of calories at one meal or skipping meals)
Frequent weighing
Extreme weight change
Insomnia, Moody, anxious, depressed
Constipation
Skin rash or dry skin
Dental cavities, Erosion of tooth enamel
Loss of hair or nail quality
Hyperactivity and high interest in exercise
If you notice recurring instances of a few of these symptoms in your teenager, we at Skooc recommend a formal evaluation.
Diagnosis
At Skooc, we help you better understand what you and your teenager are going through. Eating disorders are diagnosed based on signs, symptoms and eating habits. If your doctor suspects you have an eating disorder, he or she will likely perform an exam and request tests to help pinpoint a diagnosis.
Assessments and tests generally include:
Physical exam. Your doctor will likely examine you to rule out other medical causes for your eating issues. During a physical exam, your doctor will check your height, weight, and vital signs. Your doctor will also listen to your lungs and heart since eating disorders can cause high or low blood pressure, slow breathing or slow pulse rates. He or she may also order lab tests, including a complete blood count, liver, kidney, thyroid function tests, and urinalysis.
Psychological evaluation. A doctor or mental health professional will likely ask about your thoughts, feelings and eating habits. You may also be asked to complete psychological self-assessment questionnaires.
Click here to take an assessment.
Next Steps and Intervention
Our team of professional psychologists at Skooc can help you and your family by providing the necessary interventions. Treatment of an eating disorder generally includes a team approach. The team typically includes primary care providers, mental health professionals and dietitians — all with experience in eating disorders.
Treatment depends on your specific type of eating disorder. But in general, it typically includes nutrition education, psychotherapy and medication.
Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, can help you learn how to replace unhealthy habits with healthy ones. This may include:
Family-based therapy (FBT). FBT is an evidence-based treatment for children and teenagers with eating disorders. The family is involved in making sure that the child or other family member follows healthy eating patterns and maintains a healthy weight.
Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT is commonly used in eating disorder treatment, especially for bulimia and binge-eating disorders. You learn how to monitor and improve your eating habits and your moods, develop problem-solving skills, and explore healthy ways to cope with stressful situations.
Developmental Assesments, Therapy and Counselling Sessions at Narayana Clinic, Sarjapura Road, Bengaluru.
