5 Signs That Your Teen Might Have an Eating Disorder

In today's diet-saturated and fitness-obsessed culture, it may be difficult to tell what is behind your teen's sudden desire to lose weight or newfound interest in "healthy" eating. As a parent it can be challenging to discern whether you teenager is suffering from an eating disorder, especially because these disorders often thrive on secrecy and silence. The following are some common warning signs that may signify that your teenager is struggling with an eating disorder. 1. Eating rituals or strange eating behaviors. One sign to look out for is if you teen has started to adopt eating rituals or strange eating behaviors. Eating rituals include behaviors such as, cutting food into tiny pieces, arranging food in certain patterns, or constantly measuring food. Other eating rituals could include using the same utensils or only eating foods in a specific order. These rituals could be warning signs of anorexia nervosa and could also be an early sign of binge eating disorder. It is important to note that the presence of rituals alone doesn't necessary indicate an eating disorder, but is something to consider in the context of the person's other behaviors and attitudes towards food and weight. 2. Excessive or unusual use of condiments and beverages. Another sign of a potential eating disorder is if your teenager is using condiments/and or beverages in a way that is excessive or strange. For instance, if you notice that your teen is using an excessive amount of mustard, salt, or...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news