Eating Disorders

For both evaluation and treatment of an eating disorder, it is important to find a mental healthcare provider who specializes in eating disorders.

Anorexia Nervosa (also called Anorexia) and Bulimia are the two most common eating disorders. They occur mostly in teenage girls and young women and less often in teenage boys and young men. A child with Anorexia often refuses to eat, eats very little, or exercises more often than necessary. A child with Bulimia often eats large amounts of high calorie or high fat foods and then tries to counteract this by vomiting, overexercising, or using laxatives.

Signs and Symptoms

Identifying symptoms of Anorexia or Bulimia in your child may be very difficult. Often, children hide these illnesses from their families and friends. In fact, one common sign of an eating disorder is pulling away from friends and spending more time alone.

Typical signs and symptoms of eating disorders include:

• Perfectionism and an excessive drive for high achievement in school
• Low self-esteem
• Believing he or she is fat regardless of how thin he or she becomes
• The need to feel control over his or her life
• Dramatic weight fluctuation