Understanding Eating Disorders: A Parent's Guide

As parents, we want to protect our children from harm and support their healthy development. Understanding eating disorders is crucial because these serious mental health conditions can affect children and teens of any age, gender, or background. Early recognition and intervention can make a significant difference in recovery outcomes.

What Are Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions characterized by persistent disturbances in eating behaviors, thoughts about food, body weight, and shape. They're not lifestyle choices or phases that children will simply "grow out of." These disorders involve serious alterations in eating patterns that can have severe physical, emotional, and social consequences.

Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa (AN)

Anorexia nervosa involves severe restriction of food intake, often leading to significant weight loss. Children and teens with anorexia have an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of their body weight or shape. “Atypical” anorexia (AAN) diagnostically falls under the OSFED (see below) diagnosis; however, it should be recognized as Anorexia Nervosa, full stop. It is not actually atypical at all. The only diagnostic difference is that patients do not present as "severely underweight." AAN shares every other symptom with classic AN, including severe malnutrition, electrolyte imbalances, and other mental health comorbidities that impair functioning.

Warning signs to watch for:

• Dramatic weight loss or failure to gain weight during growth periods

• Preoccupation with calories, fat grams, or food ingredients

• Avoiding meals or making excuses not to eat

• Excessive exercise, even when injured or sick

• Wearing baggy clothes to hide one's body

• Social withdrawal, especially from food-related activities

• Complaints of being cold, fatigue, or difficulty concentrating

• Development of food rituals (cutting food into tiny pieces, eating very slowly)

Bulimia Nervosa (BN)

Bulimia nervosa involves recurring episodes of binge eating (consuming large amounts of food in short periods while feeling out of control) followed by compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as vomiting, using laxatives, excessive exercise, or fasting.

Warning signs to watch for:

• Frequent trips to the bathroom immediately after eating

• Signs of vomiting (swollen cheeks, dental problems, calluses on knuckles)

• Hidden food packages or evidence of binge eating

• Fluctuating weight

• Preoccupation with body weight and shape

• Use of laxatives, diuretics, or diet pills

• Secretive eating behaviors

• Mood swings and irritability

Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

Binge eating disorder is characterized by recurring episodes of eating large amounts of food in short periods while feeling out of control, but without the compensatory behaviors seen in BN. It's the most common eating disorder in the United States.

Warning signs to watch for:

• Eating large amounts of food rapidly

• Eating until uncomfortably full

• Eating large amounts when not physically hungry

• Eating alone due to embarrassment

• Feelings of disgust, depression, or guilt after overeating

• Weight changes

• Hiding food or eating in secret

• "Yo-yo" dieting

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

ARFID involves persistent failure to meet nutritional needs, resulting in significant weight loss, nutritional deficiency, or impaired functioning. Unlike AN, it's not driven by body image concerns but rather by factors like food texture, smell, taste, or lack of interest in food.

Warning signs to watch for:

• Extremely limited list of acceptable foods

• Weight loss or failure to thrive in children

• Nutritional deficiencies

• Dependence on nutritional supplements

• Significant interference with social functioning (avoiding social events with food)

• Sensitivity to food textures, smells, or temperatures

• Lack of appetite or interest in food

• Fear of choking or vomiting

Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED)

OSFED includes eating disorders that don't fully meet the criteria for the aforementioned diagnoses but are still serious and require treatment.

Warning signs may include:

• Many of the symptoms listed above but perhaps less frequent or severe

• Disordered eating patterns that don't fit neatly into other categories

• Significant distress or impairment related to eating behaviors

Risk Factors and Contributing Elements

Several factors can increase the risk of developing an eating disorder, including genetics, personality traits (perfectionism, anxiety), social pressures, trauma, and certain life transitions. However, it's important to remember that eating disorders can affect anyone, regardless of these risk factors.

The Importance of Early Intervention

Early detection and treatment significantly improve recovery outcomes. Eating disorders have serious medical consequences and the highest mortality rate of any mental health condition. However, with proper treatment, full recovery is possible.

What Parents Can Do

Create a supportive environment:

• Model healthy relationships with food and body image

• Avoid diet talk, commenting on weight, and over-focusing on appearance in yourself and others

• Focus on health and strength rather than size or weight

• Encourage body diversity and acceptance

• Monitor social media usage (e.g., pages that promote diet culture and the "thin-ideal")

Watch for warning signs:

• Trust your instincts if something seems wrong

• Monitor changes in eating patterns, mood, or social behavior

• Be aware of perfectionistic tendencies and anxiety around food

Seek professional help:

• Don't wait for symptoms to worsen

• Contact your pediatrician or an eating disorders expert if you have concerns

• Remember that eating disorders are serious conditions requiring professional treatment

Support your child:

• Approach conversations with compassion and without judgment

• Focus on health and wellbeing rather than weight

• Be patient with the recovery process

• Take care of your own mental health to better support your child

When to Seek Help

Contact a healthcare professional if you notice persistent changes in your child's eating patterns, dramatic weight changes, preoccupation with food or body image, social withdrawal, or mood changes related to food and eating. Early intervention can prevent the disorder from becoming more entrenched and serious.

Resources for Parents

Consider reaching out to organizations like the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), which offers resources and treatment referrals.

Remember that eating disorders are treatable, and recovery is possible with proper support and intervention. As parents, your understanding, compassion, and advocacy can play a crucial role in your child's journey toward healing and health.

Further reading:

Balasundaram P, Santhanam P. Eating Disorders. [Updated 2023 Jun 26]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-.