Parent Guide: Body Dysmorphia and Eating Disorders in Teens
Being a teen has never been easy – but being a teenage today comes with unique and complex challenges previous generations haven’t had to contend with.
Imagine a world where TikTok filters can transform everyday kids into air-brushed supermodels with the click of a button.
Where Insta-fame counts more than real friendships.
And where looking good and being seen doing it, on a global stage, have never been as accessible...and compelling...and scary!
So, what if the face and body you see in the mirror doesn’t look like the ones on the screen?
Here’s what parents of teens need to know about body dysmorphia and eating disorders in teens.
What is Body Dysmorphia?
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental health illness where sufferers become excessively obsessed with one or more real or perceived flaws in their appearance.
They constantly compare themselves to others and will try lots of different ‘cures’ and ‘remedies’ – often pushed by these same filter-flawless people online.
While it can be tempting to try and convince your teen that they are beautiful just the way they are, BDD is best treated by a qualified body dysmorphia psychologist.
Eating Disorders in Teens
Binge Eating
Binge eating is a disorder that causes a person to eat a large quantity of food at one time, even though they feel full.
It can be driven by emotional eating, which is when food is used to soothe feelings of hurt, anxiety or depression, or can be a response to strict diets that don’t appear to be working fast enough.
If your teen binge eats at least once a week for more than three months, it is advisable to see an eating disorder psychologist.
Anorexia
Teens with anorexia severely limit their calorie intake, obsess over ‘getting thin’ and still see themselves as fat no matter how much weight they lose.
Anorexia can become life threatening, so seek immediate help if you suspect your teen may be heading this way.
Bulimia
Teens with bulimia go through cycles of binge eating and then ‘purging.’ During purging cycles, they may force themselves to vomit after eating or use substances to flush their bodies of calories.
Bulimia can lead to severe health complications so seek expert medical help if you suspect your teen is bulimic.
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
ARFID sufferers are not driven by a fear of weight gain, but rather an intolerance to the texture, smell or taste of food.
This can lead to nutritional deficiencies and weight loss. Best treated by a qualified eating disorder psychologist, Melbourne parents can be assured that there is help available.
