Eating Disorders in Adolescence

Recent news article published in Businessweek on eating disorders in adolescence
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/650600.html

Eating disorders in adolescence is becoming more of a problem in today’s world. It is estimated that 2.7% of people between the ages of 13 -18 suffer from an eating disorder; that’s about 2 in every 100 adolescents. The period of time between 13 and 18 includes a lot of emotional and physical changes, academic pressures, and a greater degree of peer pressure which all could trigger an eating disorder.

There are many reasons why the number of adolescence in eating disorders is growing. A lot of the issues that spark eating disorders originate from things that have happened in the person’s life and home setting starting as a young child. Children raised in a dysfunctional family are at higher risk for developing an eating disorder. Adolescents sometimes turn to food as a coping mechanism for dealing with their emotions and feeling comfort, especially if they live in a home where they are not allowed to express their feelings which in turn can make them become an emotional binge eater. Another reason for the development of an eating disorder in adolescents is to gain a sense of control. If there is physical or sexual abuse taking place they may turn to controlling their weight and food intake since they can’t control what is happening to their body during the abuse. Self starvation may also be their way of trying to disappear so they don’t have to go through the abuse anymore. Parents that are obsessed with their own weight and dieting give their child the message that looks and appearances are important. Parents should not criticize their children on their weight or try to control their food intake because it once again places an unnecessary importance on appearance.

Some of the main reasons why eating disorders develop in adolescents is from the pressures of the media, society, and peers to look good and be thin. Society has projected an unattainable “ideal” body image. There is constant talk of dieting and how people feel better than ever when they are thin; this is apparent on TV every single day and is portraying the message that being thin is important and necessary. Peer pressure can be very influential during the adolescence period. People at that age put an importance on fitting in and being liked so they think if their peers like being thin or like thin people then they need to be thin. Puberty can also play a role. During puberty the body goes through a lot of physical changes, one of the main ones being gaining additional body fat. This sudden change in their body’s appearance scares them and then triggers them to want to lose the weight as fast as they can to get back to their prior weight before puberty.

            Whatever the reason may be for a person in adolescence having an eating disorder, it can be fixed. There is treatment available and millions of resources to be used. Everyone needs to stop focusing on appearance and love themselves and others for the way they are and realize it’s our differences that make us unique and special.