SIGNS OF EATING DISORDERS
Disordered eating can cause many different symptoms, depending on the eating disorder type. When looking for warning signs in a child/teen and foremost pay attention to what they say about themselves. Your child/teen may:
Become upset about their own eating behavior or others expecting them to eat
Be very underweight or gain a lot of weight
Eat quickly or constantly, even when they’re not hungry
Experience dehydration, dry mouth or changes to tooth enamel
Feel tired or confused
Have anxiety or depression
No longer have regular menstrual periods
These eating disorder signs may mean it’s time to seek treatment.
TREATMENT
It can be challenging for concerned parents to know if their child has reached the stage of having an eating disorder. Here are some helpful tips to help you determine if if you need to seek care for your child.
WHO GETS EATING DISORDERS?
Eating disorders are common. They can occur in people of any age or gender. Your child/teen may be at higher risk of developing an eating disorder if they:
Don’t like the way their body looks
Have a disciplined or high-achieving personality
Have other family members or peers who create rigid rules around diet and exercise
Spend a lot of time on social media and compare themselves to idealized images
When teens compare themselves to idealized body images, they may feel pressure to look a certain way,. Heavy social media use often adds to this pressure.
Continuum of care for Eating Disorders
There is a comprehensive continuum of care in the opimal treatment of eating disorders to ensure patients are receiving the right care, in the right place at the right time as they transition to a place of stability and healthy eating habits. This begins with outpatient clinic visits, and with increasing levels of care includes IOP (intensive outpatient program), PHP (partial hospitalization program), residential and inpatient care. Our clinical team knows that eating disorder behaviors involve complex medical and behavioral health components and can help guide you to the best care level for your loved one as their care needs evolve. We medically support the patient before and after residential/inpatient care.
Medical Appointments
All patients are seen initially in the clinic for evaluation. Once seen, the frequency of evaluation and labs will be determined by the severity of their illness at that time.
Group Therapy
We provide a supportive and interactive environment where individuals and their loved ones can learn from each other, share experiences, and develop coping skills.
Telehealth
It may be more convenient for the patient and family for follow-up visits to be done virtually. There is no change in time allowed or cost as compared to inperson visits.
MORE ABOUT OUR PHILOSOPHY
We aim to help you lovingly set limits on unsafe behaviors, such as not eating, that significantly affect your child’s mental and physical health. The ultimate goal is for your child to develop the capacity to again take care of themselves appropriately.
Food is medicine for a malnourished body and brain. We aim to help you stimulate eating for your child in a way that meets their current needs, even when it’s distressing and difficult.