Facts about eating disorders in kids and teens

Eating disorders are mental health disorders that impact a person’s ability to get the nutrients they need to sustain their body. But many people don’t fully understand what eating disorders are, why they happen and how they impact people’s lives.

“Eating disorders aren’t just about eating,” says Andrew McGarrahan, Ph.D., Pediatric Psychologist at Children's Health℠. “They’re about body image, emotions, stressors and so many other things. It’s never just one thing that causes an eating disorder and different people develop them for different reasons.”

Dr. McGarrahan shares important facts about eating disorders in kids and teens.

Myth #1: Eating disorders happen when a person starves themselves because they want to be thin.

Fact: There are many types of eating disorders that happen for different reasons.

Some eating disorders are related to weight and body image, while others are not. Eating disorders include:

• Anorexia nervosa, where a person typically eats very little and severely limits the types of food they eat. Usually they are below normal weight and/or very thin for their age.

• Bulimia nervosa, where a person eats large amounts of food all at once and then does something to avoid gaining weight such as making themselves vomit, excessive exercise or taking laxatives.

• Orthorexia nervosa, where a person becomes so fixated on eating only “healthy” foods that it leads to significant anxiety and may lead to dangerous weight loss.

• Binge eating disorder, where a person eats large amounts of food all at one time and feels like they can’t control how much they eat.

• Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), where a person has a strong dislike of certain foods or eating in general. ARFID is not typically about weight. It happens when a child develops anxiety around the taste or texture of a food or because of a negative experience like choking or getting severely ill after eating a certain food. This anxiety is so severe that a person significantly limits what they eat and cannot get enough nutrients.

Myth #2: Eating disorders are just about eating.

Fact: Eating disorders are related to emotions, body image and many other factors

Eating disorders aren’t just about food. They can develop as a result of:

• How a child copes with stress

• Feelings related to images and ideas about being thin or muscular

• Difficult past experiences

• Wanting to feel control

“Sometimes people who don’t fully understand eating disorders will say ‘just feed your kid their favorite food’ or ‘bring them to my house and they’ll eat,’” Dr. McGarrahan says. “But it’s not that simple. Eating disorders are wrapped up in many psychological factors.”

Learn the difference between when a child is a picky eater or has an eating disorder?

Myth #3: It's obvious when a loved one has an eating disorder.

Fact: Eating disorders aren’t always obvious, and kids and teens are often very good at hiding them.

Eating disorders can be difficult to recognize because warning signs and symptoms aren’t always obvious. For example, a child may say that they aren’t hungry or they already ate, and that can be true. But if they do this for many nights in a row, that could be a sign of an eating disorder.

Other signs of eating disorders can include:

• Intense fear of gaining weight

• Sudden and unexplained weight loss

• Changes in eating habits or unusual behaviors around eating (such as a sudden and very strong aversion to eating carbs or sugar).

• Wearing bulky or baggy clothes that aren’t typical for them or are out of season (like a baggy sweatshirt when it's hot out) to hide their body.

• Regularly coming home with a full lunchbox or not using the school meal plan

• Persistent changes in mood or behavior

• Passing out

“A lot of parents feel so bad about not noticing an eating disorder sooner,” Dr. McGarrahan says. “And I tell them, ‘give yourself a break’ because it’s not always easy to recognize.”

If you suspect your child has an eating disorder, contact your pediatrician. Detecting eating disorders early can help a child recover as quickly and effectively as possible.

Myth #4: Eating disorders are a choice.

Fact: No one chooses to develop an eating disorder.

Eating disorders are complex and sometimes life-threatening health conditions. They are not a lifestyle choice.

“People can choose to eat healthier or choose to exercise more,” Dr. McGarrahan says. “But no one chooses to develop an eating disorder.”

Many people with eating disorders feel shame or blame themselves for their illness. But it's important to know that developing an eating disorder is no one’s choice and no one’s fault. Support and treatment, rather than judgement, are what help people recover.

Myth #5: Only young girls develop eating disorders.

Fact: Anyone can develop an eating disorder.

While eating disorders are often portrayed as something that only affects teenage girls, the reality is very different. Eating disorders can affect boys as well as girls, and younger children and even adults can also be at risk. Boys, for example, may struggle with body image pressures around muscle size or athletic performance, while girls might feel pressure to be thin.

Recognizing that eating disorders can happen to anyone – regardless of age or gender – is key to getting kids the support they need.

Myth #6: Eating disorders aren’t that serious and kids grow out of them.

Fact: Eating disorders can be very serious, but eating disorder recovery is possible.

Eating disorders aren’t just a phase or part of growing up. Without treatment, eating disorders can lead to serious complications like heart and kidney problems, and even death. This happens when a child eats so little that their body cannot function.

If you suspect your child has an eating disorder, contact your pediatrician. Families and their communities play a vital role in recognizing signs and providing support throughout treatment and recovery.

Children’s Health is home to a comprehensive eating disorder program offering expert care for many types of eating disorders. Recovery looks different for each child, but generally focuses on helping young people develop healthy habits around eating and working through the complex emotions that lead people to develop an eating disorder. For most people, eating disorder recovery can take months to years, depending on the type of eating disorder, how long they have had an eating disorder and the support and treatment they receive.

Learn more

Children’s Health is here for kids of all ages who are struggling with eating disorders. Learn more about the Center for Eating Disorder Treatment and our expert care team. Our Intake Coordinator is always here to answer your questions, help you know if your child may need treatment and understand your insurance coverage. Contact our intake coordinator at: 469-303-4787.