Many people are uncomfortable with their weight. Our society places a high value on body image. It is easy to be impacted by the constant message from the media saying how our bodies are supposed to look. This message from the media that everyone should look like a super model, affects teens the most. They may choose wrong techniques in order for them to try and change. Here are some signs that might suggest that a teen girl is suffering from bulimia and/or anorexia.
How to identify
1.Watch for signs of withdrawal from everyday life. Someone with an eating disorder may withdraw from social activities. She may not want to be around groups of people, or may isolate herself completely.
2.Notice intense eating habits. A girl with an eating disorder may eat a large amount of food at one time, but not eat at other times of the day. She may eat very little, or have very strict rules such as only eating at certain times or only eating certain types of food.
3.Watch for sudden changes in eating habits. Eating habits might change quickly and dramatically, or change slowly over time.
- For example: If you notice she no longer eats her favorite junk food, this may be a sign that she has an eating disorder.
5.Note mood changes. The girl's mood may change, and she may suffer from extreme mood swings. Some moodiness is normal for a teenage girl, but moodiness in addition to eating habits, or extreme moodiness when asked to deviate from an eating routine, may be a sign of an eating disorder.
6.Notice dramatic weight changes. Weight loss is common with an eating disorder (though not with every disorder). Weight may drop dramatically from the starting point, or drop below a healthy weight.
7.Watch for insecurities or anger related to food. She may become very insecure, angry, or withdraw from a conversation about food, eating or weight gain/loss.
TIPS
- Most kids will watch their parents obsess over their weight. This can cause a child to do the same. Be aware of your behavior while dieting, your kids do notice.
- Make sure to come across as sympathetic.
- Make sure they are aware that you are there for her, and you are supporting her. She needs a friend more than anything right now.
- The most important thing is to ensure she gets help, as eating disorders can have a devastating impact on a person's life.
WARNINGS
- Do not ask if she has an eating disorder if you do not know her very closely. This will upset her and make her more defensive and secretive.
- Eating disorders are a very touchy topic and if they wanted to talk about it , they would have already. If you only want to know, so you, yourself can get any kind of personal gain from this, do not ask. Only ask if you truly care, and are willing to do everything and anything you can.
- Never make fat comments/jokes or weight comments. This may trigger a more serious illness. It will make them embarrassed about it, and she will obviously not want to talk about it.
- Don't assume that a girl can't have an eating disorder because she is heavy. Eating disorders are a mental health issue, not a body size issue. Many girls have eating disorders at all different sizes due to a societal obsession with weight and weight loss. Eating disorders may be particularly hard to detect in larger girls because there is no "too thin" warning sign, and peers and adults may praise weight loss. Excessive exercise, inadequate food intake, and too-fast weight loss are all warning signs.
source: wikihow.com
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