Causes of Eating Disorders in Teenagers: All You Need to Know
An eating disorder is a significant mental illness characterized by an unhealthy relationship between a person’s weight and self-perception as a whole. Unfortunately, these conditions are often overlooked, and without treatment, they end up being fatal. As a parent or guardian, you may be curious about the factors that contribute to the development of eating disorders in adolescents to safeguard your kid from developing one. If you’ve ever wondered what causes eating disorders in teenagers, here’s everything you need to know.
What Is An Eating Disorder?
Food addiction is a major component of an eating disorder characterized by a strong focus on weight and body image. Eating disorders in teenagers negatively impact a person’s physical, psychological, and social health.
The most frequent forms of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, avoidant restrictive food intake disorder – other specific eating and feeding disorders such as rumination disorder and pica.
In many cases, people with eating disorders continue to struggle and feel inadequate despite the assurances of others that they are OK. However, with the right eating disorder treatment in Texas, the issue may be remedied with relative ease.
Food Disorders In Adolescence: What Causes it?
Physical Factors
When it comes to eating disorders, there are various factors at play. For example, a person’s chance of getting an eating disorder may rise if they have a family member with an eating problem. Disorder eating can also occur due to dieting, particularly if the methods used are harmful.
Hormonal shifts that occur throughout puberty are another risk factor for developing an eating disorder. Girls are more vulnerable because of the hormonal changes during their menstrual cycles. This, along with several additional physical characteristics, may increase one’s risk of developing an eating problem. The best thing is that eating disorder treatment texas can solve this with ease.
Environment Factors
Teenagers’ identities are also shaped by their families’ dysfunction and peers’ social pressures. Even if a kid is raised in a clean and safe environment, media and pop culture may send mixed messages.
Stressors and substantial life transitions can also increase the likelihood of developing an eating disorder. Additionally, stressors can originate from various sources, ranging from childhood trauma such as physical and sexual violence or school bullies to divorce or a family member’s death.
Co-curriculum Activities
An eating disorder is more likely to strike a teen who participates in specific extracurricular activities or sports. Even though competitive sports are great for a teen’s health and self-esteem, the emphasis on physical fitness can be a drawback for certain teens. As a result, some people may develop an eating issue due to their body consciousness.
Dissatisfaction With the Body
Several factors contribute to body image, including self-esteem, self-confidence, and perception of physical appearance. Adolescence is a particularly typical time for people to develop dissatisfaction with their physical appearance. People who suffer from eating disorders are more likely to suffer from even higher degrees of body dissatisfaction than others who do not suffer from an eating problem.
Bottom Line
You can identify whether your teen is suffering from an eating disorder by looking at the above factors. A crucial first step is to seek treatment for your adolescent in an atmosphere devoid of criticism if you suspect they have an eating issue. Find a specialist that can tailor an eating disorder treatment program to your specific needs so that your teen’s condition is addressed as soon as possible!
