teens (13–18 years)

Not Just A Girl Thing

While eating disorders are more common in girls, they can affect boys as well. Critical ages for development of eating disorders are 14 and 18. Eating disorders involve self-critical, negative thoughts and feelings related to body image and food. As many as 2 out of 100 kids in America will struggle with an eating disorder. An eating disorder is different from just feeling fat when you aren’t. It is a devastating illness in which your teen becomes so preoccupied with their weight and body image, they jeopardize their health. It is important to know the warning signs:

• preoccupation with eating, food, and becoming very thin, frail, or emaciated

• weight control weighs herself or himself repeatedly

• rigid food rituals – having to cut food many

• times before eating, moving food around the plate

• or avoiding dietary fats calorie counting, eating only low-fat foods and/

• or “vegan”

•

•

• sudden interest in becoming a “vegetarian” exercising excessively, hiding exercise, and/or showing guilt when exercise is missed withdrawing from social activities, especially meals and celebrations involving food depressed, lethargic (lacking in energy) multiple medical complaints – troubles with

• bowels, heartburn, frequent stomach aches, missing periods, feeling cold all the time, night sweats, difficulty sleeping bathroom visits immediately after meals

• regularly buying diet pills, laxatives, diuretics,

• or enemas

• dressing in layers interest in fad diets and wanting to participate

•

REMEMBER: An eating disorder sufferer DOES NOT need to appear underweight or even ‘normal’ weight. Many appear NOT to be underweight... it does not mean they suffer less or are in any less danger.

Fm Help

If you suspect an eating disorder, it is important to intervene and there is help right here in Fargo-Moorhead. The Eating Disorders Institute offers treatment on an outpatient basis, or if needed they also offer both partial hospital and full inpatient treatment. You can visit them online for helpful information, www.meritcare.com/specialties/mental/eating/, or call 701.234.4111 or 800.437.4010 (ext. 4111) to learn more about their programs or to schedule an evaluation or consultation.

sources: www.feeding.com, www.mayoclinic.com, www.theparentreport.com, www.kidshealth.org, www.babycenter.com, www.family.go.com, www.dpi.state.nd.us, www.meritcare.com