Eating Disorders

Noticing other women’s weight is a common habit for many women, but sometimes this habit can become unhealthy. In extreme cases, people can obsess over their weight so much that they develop an eating disorder. Teenagers are the most at-risk group for developing anorexia. As they try to fit in with others and attract members of the opposite sex, many young people (both men and women, although more commonly women) starve themselves to improve their self esteem.

In reality, eating disorders are not a healthy method for improving self image. Anorexia is usually conjures images of an individual refusing to eat, moving food around their plate instead of eating it, constantly claiming they aren’t hungry, and doing everything in their power to avoid eating. However, anorexia can also refer to obsessive exercise, where an individual exercises excessively to lose weight.

Individuals with anorexia are sick more often than healthy individuals, and they become very skinny and pale. Emotional problems, such as moodiness and sadness, often develop in anorexic individuals. Many people with anorexia deny they have a problem. They will resist keeping a normal body weight and they will have an intense fear of gaining weight.

Below are a list of specific body parts that anorexia impacts negatively.

Brain and Nerves

Without proper nourishment, the brain is not able to regulate itself properly. Mood is often the first thing affected, and anorexic individuals often become sad, moody, and irritable. Other side effects on the brain include impaired memory, fainting, and changes in brain chemistry.

Hair

Individuals with anorexia often have thin, brittle, and lackluster hair. In extreme cases, anorexic individuals have been known to lose their hair.

Heart

Anorexia can cause low blood pressure, slow heart rate, heart palpitations, and even heart failure.

Blood

An individual with anorexia is prone in anemia and other serious blood disorders.

Muscles, Joints, and Bones

Individuals with anorexia often experience weak muscles and painfully swollen joints. They can also suffer from bone loss, easy fractures, and osteoporosis.

Kidneys

Anorexia has been known to cause kidney stones and kidney failure in affected individuals.

Body Fluids

Individuals suffering from anorexia often have low potassium, magnesium, and sodium levels, which can have a very negative impact on the body’s health in terms of energy levels, mood, etc.

Intestines

Anorexia can cause an individual to be constipated and bloated.

Hormones

For women suffering from anorexia, periods can stop. Many of these women have problems growing and getting pregnant. If pregnant and anorexic, women have a higher risk for a miscarriage, postpartum depression, requiring a C-section, and having a baby with a dangerously low birth weight.

Skin

Individuals suffering from anorexia can bruise easily and develop a growth of fine hair all over their body. They also tend to have dry skin, brittle nails, and yellow skin, and they get cold much more easily than healthy individuals.

Get Help

If you or someone you know is suffering from anorexia, the best thing you can do is get help. A doctor, nurse, or counselor can help you, your friend, or your son or daughter overcome this serious problem. If you suspect that your teen could have an eating disorder or could be engaging in other types of unhealthy or dangerous behavior, it could be time for you to seek help from an outside source. One great source of help for at-risk teens are Christian boarding schools. At these schools, students are rehabilitated through a time-tested and individualized program consisting of both discipline and reward. Students receive the love and guidance they need to transition from a troubled teen into an emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually healthy young adult.

Overeating in teens is something that all parents should be on the lookout for. Although nearly everyone overeats at least occasionally, it is important to make the distinction between occasional indulgence, say, on Thanksgiving or at a pizza party, and habitual, often uncontrollable overeating. As a parent, it is your responsibility to ensure that your child leads a happy and healthy life, and controlling their eating habits is a huge part of that responsibility. Even if you yourself do not lead the healthiest lifestyle, it is crucial that you still attempt to better your child’s prospects. Below you will find some of the most important basic facts about overeating in teens:

It can be very destructive.

Overeating in teens can have tremendously negative impacts on your teen’s future. The eating and lifestyle habits instilled during childhood and the teenaged years will likely stick with your son or daughter throughout the remainder of their lifetime. If they are not given healthy alternatives to overeating, then they could continue this dangerous habit all through adulthood. Remember that overeating is one of the primary causes of obesity, which is itself one of the leading causes of death in America.

Obesity can lead to any number of health problems, including (but not limited to) heart disease, diabetes, joint pain, arthritis, organ strain, and even cancer. These are things that no parent wants for their child, so being overweight due to overeating is nothing to take lightly. Beyond the physical issues associated with being overweight, overeating can also have potentially devastating consequences in terms of your child’s self esteem, social life, and overall happiness and quality of life.

It could indicate a dangerous emotional disorder.

Rarely does overeating stem from a simple love of food. Rather, often times, overeating is a manifestation of an underlying emotional or mental disorder, and that disorder could be quite dangerous. For example, overeating is often cited as a symptom of depression, a serious emotional disorder which could lead to decreased quality of life and even suicide. Overeating could be indicative of a food addiction, which is grounds for seeking professional help, as it is a condition that could quickly spiral out of control.

Anxiety and low self esteem are also often characterized by overeating, and this forms a vicious cycle: Teens overeat because they feel anxious, depressed, or uncomfortable or because they have have low self esteem, but the overeating causes feelings of guilt and negative changes in their body (such as weight gain), which then increase their unhappy feelings and decrease their self esteem. As a parent, you are in the best possible position to step in and break this awful cycle.

It’s very easy to spot.

Overeating in teens is something that parents are bound to notice, so as long as they can overcome their own doubts and denial issues, then there is hope for helping their child. The signs and symptoms of overeating are quite obvious. Teens who have gained weight rapidly (beyond the weight gain typical in teens and preteens) and teens who sneak food, lie about how much they have eaten, or seem embarrassed about eating could have an eating disorder. Finally, teens who overeat as a result of certain negative emotions or moods (known simply as emotional eating) often have the type of overeating problem that is the most deeply rooted and therefore the hardest to address.

For parents who suspect that their teen could have a problem with overeating, it is important to address this issue as soon as possible. Despite the widespread acceptance of being overweight and indulging on a regular basis, the simple fact is that this lifestyle is not only unhealthy, but also could be deadly. As a parent, it is your responsibility to secure the happiness of your child’s future and the longevity of their life by teaching your teen healthy eating habits and ways of coping with emotional problems beyond turning to food. If you do not feel capable of addressing this serious problem on your own, professional help is a great alternative; in fact, in many cases, it is the only thing that produces lasting results.