In this day and age, most parents are aware of how prevalent eating disorders are in the teenage population. Unfortunately, the “it won’t happen to my kid” mentality is common, and it’s easy for parents to assume things are fine if their kids don’t present any obvious symptoms. If you’re a concerned parent, you should take some time to learn about the realities of eating disorders.
Misconception Number One: Eating Disorders Only Happen to Girls
While it’s true that more females have eating disorders than males, statistics from the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) show that almost one third of teenage boys have used dangerous methods to control their weight.
Misconception Number Two: Eating Disorders are About Physical Appearance
The desire to be thin is a major trigger for most eating disorders, but the root cause of the problem is the need for control. No one likes feeling powerless. No one likes feeling unattractive. When a teen feels both of these things at once, he or she will often attempt to regain control by creating an unrealistic goal for physical attractiveness and then manipulating the diet to meet that goal.
Sometimes, these disorders are not about weight at all. Orthorexia, one of the newer eating disorders, is similar to anorexia and bulimina, but it involves the desire to be healthy instead of thin. A teen with orthorexia will focus intensely on making perfect food choices, often cutting out entire food groups and refusing to eat anything that isn’t considered “pure.” Extreme dietary fads, such as eating 100 percent raw or doing juice cleanses, are a good example of this problem.
Misconception Number Three: Eating Disorders Always Show Symptoms
A lot of movies depict girls with eating disorders as skeletal and near death, and while this should certainly be a concern, it’s important to realize that many people who suffer from disordered eating do not show any symptoms physically. In fact, a person can be in extreme distress without showing much weight loss, and this can sometimes be even more dangerous. Suicide is a common cause of death among sufferers, and if a teen is having a hard time achieving the weight loss he or she desires, the chance for a depressive breakdown is far greater.
If you’re concerned your son or daughter might have an eating disorder, it’s time to have a serious talk. Create an open dialogue with your kids about body image, self-esteem, emotions and thoughts about food. Most teens will struggle to have a healthy relationship with food in one way or another, but if they have a strong parent who can provide a good example, the chances of that struggle turning into a full-blown disorder will be much less.
