Eating disorders include concerning eating behaviors, such as eating very little or a lack of control over how much food one is eating, extreme behaviors to control weight (like exercising a lot), and negative emotions or thoughts related to one’s appearance. Eating disorders often develop during adolescence, and research shows that some children are already dieting by the age of 10. These experiences can be distressing and can cause problems in a child’s daily life, including at school, with family, and with friendships. It is important to note that eating disorders do not have a “look”! Although most people are familiar with anorexia nervosa (an eating disorder characterized by very low body weight), most people with eating disorders are not underweight. Eating disorders can happen to anyone, but there are ways to help prevent them.
*This article is sponsored by The Child Study Center
Biological, environmental, and psychological factors contribute to risk for eating disorders. That is, many things can influence an adolescent’s vulnerability to eating disorder behaviors, and some things are out of parents’ control, like genes. However, parents can still play a critical role in supporting their children to develop healthy eating habits and body image. There are some key factors that parents can look out for right away, including:
- Social media use. Social media use itself is not problematic, but research indicates some content promotes unrealistic body ideals and disordered eating like extreme dieting and excessive exercise. This content is especially common on apps that feature pictures and videos, like TikTok and Instagram. Parents should monitor what their child is viewing on social media and intervene if their child is watching content like this.
- Weight stigma. Weight stigma includes negative beliefs about an individual due to their body size. These negative beliefs can show up in critical comments about a person’s body size as well as excessive praise of people who have lost weight (because the underlying message there is that weight loss is desirable). Parents should avoid commenting on their child’s, or other people’s, body sizes (including their own), and discourage their child from doing so as well. They should de-emphasize the importance of body weight. For example, parents can point out that body size is perhaps the least interesting aspect of a person.
- Equating body size and shape with beauty standards. Regardless of gender, youth are susceptible to upholding societal standards for body size. Young girls tend to seek a smaller body size, while young boys report seeking a lean but muscular body size. Nonbinary and genderfluid youth may experience fluctuations in which type of body they idealize, or they may seek an androgenous body appearance. Parents should encourage youth to talk positively about their body’s functionality (“my body is strong enough to get me through long days”) and limit criticisms about their body’s appearance.
If parents notice signs of disordered eating in their child, they should seek resources like therapy right away (see link to a list of resources at the bottom of this page!). Some common signs of disordered eating among youth can include, but are not limited to:
- Weight loss not due to physical illness or another known cause
- Avoiding wearing swimsuits, form-fitting clothing, and/or being in photos.
- Noticeable changes from their typical diet such as eating less, cutting out food groups such as carbohydrates or desserts, counting calories, or eating the same foods all the time.
- Anxiety about eating or new lack of interest in eating
- Avoiding eating food from restaurants.
- Exercising more frequently or intensely than usual.
What else can parents do to support their child and intervene?
- Seek support quickly. There are many helpful resources (linked below) that can help parents find eating disorder treatment. Also, talking with your child’s primary care doctor or seeking therapeutic treatment is helpful if disordered eating is suspected.
- Model and normalize healthy eating, including eating fun foods like dessert and sweets! Adolescents pick up on parent eating behaviors – when parents model food freedom, adolescents are more likely to also feel more free to listen to their bodies and eat freely.
- Model healthy exercise and rest. Parents can talk with their children about the benefits of regular movement and exercise, but they should also emphasize the importance of enjoying exercise and resting, too.
Resources:
SEED Lab at Virginia Tech (more resources related to eating disorders and mental health, as well as upcoming research projects you or your child may be eligible to participate in).
Child Study Center at Virginia Tech (more resources related to child and adolescent mental health and parenting, as well as upcoming research projects you or your child may be eligible to participate in). Join our Child Study Center Research Registry to stay up to date with our current projects, outreach events, and resources!
