Comments on: Signs of Eating Disorders in Teenagers

By: Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen

Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:36:57 +0000

Getting therapy for bulimia and help for anorexia isn’t avoiding the problem of eating disorders, I don’t think.

I also think teen eating disorders is a combination of genetic and learned behavior: many teenagers develop body image issues from society (movies, TV, books) and even from their mothers, friends, and other women in their lives. Couple that with a tendency towards perfectionism or obsessive compulsive leanings, and an eating disorder could develop.

I’d be interested in learning how you can lend a hand to people with bulimia or anorexia nervosa…I’m sure you CAN, but I’m just curious about how.

By: Frank

Frank — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:00:53 +0000

I’m sick of people telling me its just a phase when I know people out there dying from eating disorders! Lend a hand; don’t avoid the problem people.

By: Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen

Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:11:24 +0000

Thanks, Morgan. You’re right: identifying the causes of teen eating disorders is important.

It’s interesting that eating disorders may run in families; I wonder if it’s genetic or learned behavior? That is, do teenagers watch their parents struggle with anorexia or bulimia and develop eating disorders that way, or is it a gene they’re just born with?

By: Morgan

Morgan — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:54:43 +0000

Hi,

This is good information about eating disorders for teens, but I want to share about the causes of anorexia and bulimia. This info is from TeensHealth.org:

What Causes Eating Disorders?

No one is really sure what causes eating disorders, although there are many theories about why people develop them. Many people who develop an eating disorder are between 13 and 17 years old. This is a time of emotional and physical changes, academic pressures, and a greater degree of peer pressure. Although there is a sense of greater independence during the teen years, teens might feel that they are not in control of their personal freedom and, sometimes, of their bodies. This can be especially true during puberty.

For girls, even though it’s completely normal (and necessary) to gain some additional body fat during puberty, some respond to this change by becoming very fearful of their new weight. They might mistakenly feel compelled to get rid of it any way they can.

When you combine the pressure to be like celeb role models with the fact that during puberty our bodies change, it’s not hard to see why some teens develop a negative view of themselves.

Many people with eating disorders also can be depressed or anxious, or have other mental health problems such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). There is also evidence that eating disorders may run in families. Although part of this may be our in genes, it’s also because we learn our values and behaviors from our families.

This is important information about teenage eating disorders.

Thanks
Morgan