Dr. Oz on How to Spot an Eating Disorder in Teens

• by Simon and Schuster AUTHORity, on Mon Jun 20, 2011 10:42am PDT

It seems like teens these days have more pressures than ever: Studying harder to get into the school of their dreams, sweating more to make it on the high school team, texting incessantly to keep up with the lives of their friends. Some of these kids do a marvelous job handling it all, some of them hit some roadblocks, and still others aren’t quite sure how to best cope with everything going on in their lives.

According to Drs. Mehmet Oz, Michael F. Roizen, and Ellen Rome, authors of YOU: The Owner’s Manual for Teens: A Guide to a Healthy Body and Happy Life, one of the ways that some teens try to cope with not only these pressures but also the pressures they may feel to have the perfect body is through how they treat their bodies—namely in the form of eating disorders, the point when a major part of their lives is being controlled by thoughts and actions involving food, weight, and/or body.

There are many ways you can tell if the teen in your life is showing signs of an eating disorder. Not every kid has every sign; this is not an exhaustive or exclusive list. But some signs to watch out for include:

Excessive concern about one body part: If he or she talks about one body part that seems just fine to most other folks around them, it could be a sign of an obsession that may manifest itself in the teen controlling their nutrition in unhealthy ways. While everybody’s perceptions about what’s normal are different, it’s okay to use the ‘reasonable standard’ here—that’s because those with eating disorders tend not to see their bodies in ways that most others do. A preoccupation with appearance or body weight that gets in the way of daily life is a good tip-off that she has crossed from more than just a healthy, teen-like concern about appearance.

Unusual eating rituals: This can include rearranging food on the plate, excessive chewing, eating food in a certain order, or having to measure all food consumed. While being smart about healthy food choices is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, overly ritualistic behaviors may be a sign that someone is crossing the line between health-conscious and dangerous.

Changes in posture: Those who have eating disorders will often try to hide their appearance (the sudden and extreme weight losses) by wearing baggier clothes or hunching over. They do this to cover their tracks, so that adults can’t see these body changes and get a clue about their eating-related behavior changes. 

Excessive solo behavior: When someone makes a point of trying to eat alone or taking time right after a meal, it may be a sign that she is really restricting the amount she eats or bingeing and/or purging afterwards. It is important to remember that behaviors do help define eating disorders, but the root of the problems has to do more with the feelings and thoughts that the person has about his or her body.

Increasing self-consciousness: Eating disorders seem to burrow into the brains of their victims, take over their thoughts and grow stronger every day. They build a “fat box,” where every comment, every situation, is filtered through the box and distorted, so that it comes out as a criticism or demand. “You look great today” becomes “You usually look fat.” “You look so healthy” becomes “You’re eating too much.” “I love your hair” becomes “I can’t find anything nice to say about the rest of you.”

Some other signs to watch out for:

• Preoccupation with appearance, body shape, or weight, with the preoccupation getting in the way of daily life.
• Consistent sadness, frustration, or anger about body image.
• Frequent self-deprecating comments.
• Frequent comparison to others regarding appearance, body shape, or weight.
• Secrecy related to eating or exercise habits.
• Dramatic or steady weight loss and/or extreme weight fluctuations (big ups and downs).
• Severely restricting food intake.
• Bingeing.
• Refusal to eat certain foods.
• Obsessing over body weight, calories, food, or dieting.
• Making excuses to avoid mealtimes and eating, including claiming food intolerances or allergies when none actually exist.
• Complaining often about feeling fat.
• Excessive exercise, even during bad weather or sickness; needing to get rid of calories consumed.
• Vomiting, diet pills, laxative use, or other forms of purging.
• Frequent weighing.
• Refusal to eat in front of others.
• Consistent denial of hunger.
• Attempts to hide appearance with clothing or posture.
• Moodiness, depression, withdrawn personality.
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•  Posting Source: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/dr-oz-on-how-to-spot-an-eating-disorder-in-teens-2499456/