Teenagers go through various stages, and it can be difficult to discern whether they are just going through a “phase” or developing a significant problem. Teenagers face enormous pressures that can either push them to become better people or challenge them in ways that create harmful habits. It is not uncommon for parents to question their child’s behavior, especially when it comes to food. Changes in eating habits can be signs of stress, peer pressure, or a developing problem. When your teenager decides they need a diet and their eating habits begin to change, it’s natural to ask yourself, “Is my teen anorexic?”
Signs of Anorexia in Teenagers
Anorexia is a very serious emotional illness that can, if left untreated, lead to death. Crash dieting has become commonplace in society, and scrutinizing one’s body is considered normal to some degree. However, when a teenager begins to skip meals regularly, plays with their food rather than eating it, and weighs themselves daily for more than a week, they may be developing an unhealthy relationship with food and their body. In such cases, it’s important to consider taking them to local bulimia and anorexia treatment centers.
While doctors won’t diagnose anorexia until at least 14% of a person’s healthy body weight is lost, the disorder often starts much earlier—before any significant weight loss occurs. Anorexia begins when a teenager starts to look at their body with absolute disgust. They may not tell you about it, but a teen with developing anorexia may experience an actual physical reaction to their reflection in the mirror, sometimes feeling nauseous at the sight of themselves.
Behaviors indicating anorexia include frequently discussing body weight and perceived imperfections. Teenagers are not usually the most open individuals and tend to keep their thoughts to themselves. However, if they are talking about their body weight, chances are they’re revealing the best things they feel about themselves.
In some cases, anorexia can even be seen as “cool.” A group of young girls may start a diet together, pushing each other to unhealthy extremes—competing to see who can hold out the longest, who can lose the most weight in a week, and who can avoid detection by their parents for the longest period.
Anorexia often begins with attention. You notice they aren’t eating, so you comment on it. You bring it up at every meal, and at first, they may have simply “dieted” and lost a few pounds. You might even compliment them. But over time, they begin losing too much weight, eating even less, and you’re constantly worried. Now, they no longer want the attention and simply want the freedom to get as thin as they want without arguing about the food they are—or are not—eating.
When tension around food and meal time increases in the home, teens with anorexia may start pretending to eat. Some go as far as leaving empty food containers out, as though they had eaten but just didn’t clean up. In reality, the food might have been flushed, given to the dog, or buried at the bottom of the trash.
As stress and tension build around food, anorexic teens may become deceitful to minimize the pressure. They may move food around their plate, hide food in their pockets or napkin, or excessively exercise when you aren’t around. These behaviors reinforce the idea that losing weight is empowering, and they may feel stronger or even invincible because of their ability to deny themselves basic nourishment.
Unfortunately, teen anorexia is often not obvious until it takes a serious toll on their life. Their social relationships suffer, their connection with family becomes strained, and their ability to perform well in school, sports, or other activities diminishes. A few lucky teens may have a friend who risks the friendship to alert their parents, but this takes remarkable courage, as anorexic teens often resent anything that interferes with their goal.
Anorexia is not just a girl’s problem. A small percentage of boys can also be affected by this illness, and they often don’t receive the help they need because many parents fail to recognize the symptoms in boys. Society is generally more attuned to identifying anorexia in girls than in boys.
The bottom line is simpler than it might seem. If you’re wondering, “Is my teen anorexic?” the answer is likely “yes.” If you’re asking this question, there is clearly a behavioral issue with food that concerns you. If your child is losing weight, playing games with food, and struggling in other areas of their life, it’s time to get them help. Take them for counseling and let an expert determine the best course of action.
