How to detect eating disorders (in teens)

With the arrival of summer, complexes also arrive and especially among young people and adolescents, they are related with his physique. These can lead to eating problems, extreme and / or miraculous diets, destructive behaviors, ingestion of "drugs" ...

In this article We will see some warning signs, not alarm, to be able to detect a possible eating disorder in time.

What are the most common eating disorders among young people?

But before we will broadly define the two disorders that most concern parents of adolescents:

It is the refusal to maintain a normal weight according to age and height. An intense fear of gaining weight even while being under the ideal weight, a distortion of one's own body image and a denial of the disease. It usually results in amenorrhea (absence of the menstrual period).

Make reference to the pexcessive reoccupation with food leading to repeated bouts of overeating of food as well as the practice of extreme measures to control weight (vomiting, laxative abuse, drug use, fasting, ...) -

We must bear in mind that these disorders not only come from a poor acquisition of habits food, but also a combination of emotional, family, social and cultural

The importance of prevention

Both eating disorders (anorexia or bulimia) and obesity are problems where prevention is very important to avoid them. They are really serious disorders and of which it is important that we know that their consequences are very negative and affecting all areas: personal, physical, social, emotional, discrimination, malnutrition...

Behaviors and signs that someone has an eating disorder

There are some behaviors and behaviors that can alert us that something is wrong. Here are some warning signs, although if we detect some of them, it will be essential not to be alarmed and go to a professional to guide and advise us.

Warning signs (not alarm)

• Voluntary restriction of high calorie foods
• Decrease or excess consumption of water or liquids
• Strange behaviors related to the habit of eating: eating standing up, cutting food into small pieces, looking for excuses to get moving ...
• Increased physical activity or even compulsive exercise
• Increase in study hours
• Decreased sleep hours
• Irritability and mood swings
• Depressive symptoms
• Excessive worry about weight
• Disorder of your image
• Denial of feelings of hunger, thirst, sleep, and fatigue
• Disinterest in leisure activities
• Storing food in different places
• Intensive consumption of sugar-free gum
• Excessive tobacco use to decrease anxiety to eat
• Refusal of social meals
• Self-induced vomiting
• Decline in school performance
• Denial of illness
• Concentration and learning difficulties
• Feeling guilty
• Low self-esteem
• Intense social life with intervals of isolation

Guidelines for helping a teenager with worrisome symptoms

It will be necessary, at all times, to support the adolescent, let's not forget that the person who suffers from some of these disorders is suffering a situation emotionally difficult and will need the support of their environment and especially of parents and their family.

They tend to have low self-esteem that makes them feel uninteresting, that creates great insecurity and elevated states of anxiety. In addition, they tend to have social problems, they may feel isolated, victims of ridicule from friends or with excessive pressure. Parents and families should prevent boys and girls from feeling that their physique is the most important thing to successfully develop in society.

Individual, family and social support

Therefore, what parents must do is enhance those factors that will protect the child and future adolescent from these, and other disorders:

• Promote family cohesion, offer good role models, expose cultural values ​​about body beauty in accordance with health, enhance self-esteem, self-confidence and the self-efficacy, offer social resources and that allow them to solve problems, be aware and adjust parental expectations ...
• Promote good eating habits, as well as the knowledge of the need to maintain a good diet and promote self-esteem and self-confidence. They will be the essential basics.
• Sharing meals with children, explain the consequences of a poor diet, teach them good eating habits and schedules from a young age, build with them their self-esteem, that they feel capable of assuming problems and concerns, fostering parental-child understanding and trust, not judging or blaming children... parents and children should share their interest in good nutrition and parents should be the appropriate role models to follow, continue.

We cannot demand what we do not do, that is, if parents eat poorly or in a disorganized way, they cannot ask their children have good eating habits, since parents are responsible for teaching them what the guidelines are adequate.

If we are able to carry out these guidelines and tips, we will be able to help the young person with eating problems. But It will also be essential to have professional support in order to tackle the causes of the disorder.