Adolescents, Children and Eating Disorders
Anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder and compulsive overeating are concerns every parent hopes to avoid. But, when these eating disorders develop, there are some tremendously helpful resources for parents, siblings and other concerned family and friends. Eating disorder treatment is available for children and adolescents on an outpatient, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, and inpatient level for these young people. Perhaps, most helpful of all, some studies have shown that early intervention in the development of an eating disorder has the best likelihood of long term recovery.
Eating Disorders In Adolescents & Teens Videos
Articles
National Study Gives Parents an Urgent Topic for Discussion
By Kimberly Dennis, M.D.
Medical Director of Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center
Would you know if your teen was struggling with an eating disorder? About 525,000 U.S. teenagers are, and many also have other serious emotional health issues, including suicidal thoughts, according to results of a survey of more than 10,000 teens published in the Archives of General Psychiatry. More commonly reported by the teens than anorexia (55,000 teens) or bulimia (170,000 teens) was binge eating disorder (300,000 teens), the symptoms of which may be harder for parents to spot.
The present study is the largest and most comprehensive analysis of eating disorders in the U.S. to date, including nationally representative data on 10,123 teens aged 13 to 18. Binge-eating was the most common disorder, affecting more than 1.6 percent of the teens studied; 0.9 percent suffer bulimia; and 0.3 percent anorexia. Overall, three percent had a lifetime prevalence of one of the disorders. Another three percent experienced troubling symptoms of disordered eating, but not full-fledged eating disorders... Read More
A Heavy Burden: Raising Healthy Families in our Weight Obsessed Culture
Deborah Russo, PsyD, Dena Cabrera, PsyD, & Amy Spahr, LCSW
Remuda Ranch Treatment Programs
Studies confirm the powerful influence our consumer culture has on
imprinting norms of behavior. Family dynamics, biology, technology, and our powerful media culture contribute to shaping families. How do we help parents, caregivers and other leaders navigate the winds influencing our youth culture especially as it relates to weight related and body image issues? This article highlights the factors that shape beliefs and attitudes toward our bodies. It will offer ten ways to help families develop resilience and build protective factors encouraging positive and confident relationships with body and weight.... Read More
Fostering Healthy Body Image and Weight in Your Pre-Teen Or Teen
by Wendy Oliver-Pyatt, MD
Puberty is a tumultuous time in a child's life: the first giant step into the unknown world of adulthood, with its excitement and fears. And no area of puberty and adolescence is more fraught with both promise and worry than a child's changing body image.
Suddenly, after growing slowly and steadily for years, a child approaching puberty rapidly begins to shoot up and round out. In addition, sexual characteristics make their appearance, as hormones trigger breast development, pubic hair growth, and a host of other changes including that hallmark of the teenage years: radical mood swings... Read More
Treating Children with Eating Disorders
Julie Lesser, MD
Ah, the middle school years. For most kids, this is a time for hanging out with friends, exploring new boundaries and becoming a full-fledged teen. But what happens when this period of development is hampered by an uncontrollable fear of gaining weight?
"Eating disorders may take a significant toll at any age, but they're especially dangerous for children ages 13 and younger," says Julie Lesser, MD, Methodist Hospital Eating Disorders Institute. "Changes in diet may impact health more rapidly in children than in adults. Not only are they still growing, but children require adequate fuel to be active, especially if they are participating in organized sports. If they develop an eating disorder, they may become malnourished very quickly."... Read More
