According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), more than 30 million Americans suffer from an eating disorder. As young children grow into adolescents, their relationship with food may change. But how do you know if your teen is just a picky eater, or if they’re exhibiting signs that they have an eating disorder?
Merriam-Webster defines an eating disorder as, “any of several psychological disorders characterized by serious disturbances of eating behavior.” Typically, when we think of eating disorders, we’re referring to anorexia-nervosa, binge eating or bulimia. While there are several ways your teen’s eating can be disordered, these are the most common.
Symptoms can include anything from eating to excess to restricting their consumption of food. Here are some signs your teen has an eating disorder and what you can do about it.