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Understanding Eating Disorders: What Parents Need to Know

Eating disorders (EDs) are serious but treatable mental health conditions that affect millions of people, particularly young individuals. If you're a parent, guardian, or educator, understanding these disorders can help you spot early warning signs and provide the right support. With National Eating Disorders Awareness Week happening February 24 to March 2, now is the perfect time to spread awareness, challenge misconceptions, and support those who may be struggling.

Did you know that approximately 95% of those with eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25? That’s a staggering number, and it underscores just how important it is to have open conversations about food, body image, and mental health with the young people in our lives. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the different types of eating disorders, what causes them, how to recognize the signs, and what you can do to help.

Common Eating Disorders and Their Symptoms

1. Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is often recognized by extreme food restriction, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted perception of body size. Teens and young adults with anorexia may see themselves as overweight even when they are dangerously underweight. It’s important to remember that anorexia doesn’t always look the way we expect—some people with atypical anorexia still struggle deeply, even if they aren’t visibly underweight.

2. Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa involves cycles of binge eating followed by behaviors like self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise, or misuse of laxatives. Young people with bulimia might seem to eat normally around others, but they may feel out of control when they binge and then try to “make up for it” afterward. The shame and secrecy that come with this disorder can make it hard to detect, but noticing changes in eating habits or frequent bathroom trips after meals can be a clue.

3. Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

Unlike bulimia, binge eating disorder does not involve purging behaviors, but it does include recurring episodes of excessive food consumption, often accompanied by feelings of guilt, distress, and lack of control. This is actually the most common eating disorder in the U.S., and it can lead to serious physical health concerns over time.

4. Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

ARFID may not be as well-known, but it’s just as serious. Unlike other EDs, ARFID isn’t necessarily linked to body image concerns—it’s more about extreme food avoidance, whether due to sensory sensitivities, fear of choking, or lack of interest in eating. This disorder can cause severe nutritional deficiencies and interfere with a young person’s ability to grow and thrive.

What Causes Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders develop for many reasons, and they’re never just about food. Genetics, personality traits, mental health conditions, and cultural pressures all play a role. Let’s break it down:

Biological Factors

• A family history of eating disorders can increase a person’s risk.
• Brain chemistry and hormonal changes—especially during puberty—can contribute to disordered eating behaviors.

Psychological Factors

• Perfectionism and high levels of anxiety can make someone more vulnerable.
• Low self-esteem and negative body image often go hand-in-hand with EDs.
• Depression and OCD are commonly linked to eating disorders.

Environmental and Social Factors

• Social media and societal beauty standards – Social media plays a huge role in how young people see themselves and their bodies. With constant exposure to unrealistic beauty standards, edited images, and influencers promoting diet culture, it's easy for young people to develop unhealthy comparisons. Studies show that increased social media use is linked to body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviors, making it crucial for parents to have open discussions about media literacy and self-acceptance.
• Parental pressures and family expectations – Parents who emphasize thinness, appearance, or dieting, even unintentionally, can contribute to a child’s anxiety around food and body image. Comments about weight, portion control, or comparisons to others may make children feel pressured to meet unrealistic standards.
• Weight-focused sports and coaching influences – Certain sports like gymnastics, ballet, wrestling, and running often place a heavy emphasis on maintaining a specific body type. Coaches who prioritize weight over performance, or who encourage extreme dieting and body monitoring, can inadvertently lead athletes to develop disordered eating behaviors.
• Bullying — especially weight-related teasing — can be a major trigger. Negative comments about weight, body size, or eating habits can leave lasting emotional scars, reinforcing harmful self-perceptions. Children and teens who experience this type of bullying may resort to restrictive eating, bingeing, or excessive exercise as coping mechanisms. Addressing weight-based bullying in schools, sports, and at home is crucial in preventing its impact on self-esteem and eating behaviors.

How Can You Tell If Your Child Might Have an Eating Disorder?

Recognizing the warning signs early can make a huge difference. Here are some behaviors to watch for:

• Changes in eating habits – Skipping meals, refusing to eat with family, or suddenly eating in secret.
• Obsessive focus on weight or body shape – Constantly checking the mirror, making negative comments about their appearance, or extreme dieting.
• Dramatic weight changes – Rapid weight loss or gain, even if they say it’s intentional.
• Unusual eating behaviors – Cutting food into tiny pieces, eating extremely slowly, or suddenly developing strong food aversions.
• Frequent bathroom visits after meals – This could be a sign of purging.
• Compulsive exercise – Exercising excessively, even when injured or exhausted.
• Emotional distress related to food – Feeling guilty, ashamed, or anxious about eating.
• Physical signs – Dry skin, hair loss, dizziness, or sensitivity to cold—these can all be signs of malnutrition.

If you notice several of these warning signs, trust your instincts and reach out for help. It’s always better to check in with a professional than to wait and see.

What Can You Do as a Parent or Caregiver?

You don’t have to have all the answers, but your support is incredibly valuable. Here’s how you can help:

• Encourage open, judgment-free conversations – Let them know they can talk to you about their feelings without fear of criticism.
• Be mindful of how you talk about food and weight – Avoid labeling foods as “good” or “bad,” and model balanced, intuitive eating habits.
• Seek professional help – Eating disorders require specialized treatment, including therapy, medical care, and sometimes nutritional support.
• Create a supportive environment – Avoid dieting talk in the home and encourage body acceptance.
• Educate yourself and others – Learn more about eating disorders so you can provide informed, compassionate support.

Myths and Stereotypes About Eating Disorders

Despite growing awareness, many misconceptions about eating disorders persist. Addressing these myths is essential in reducing stigma and ensuring that those who need help receive proper support.

• Myth: Eating disorders only affect teenage girls.
  • Reality: While eating disorders are more commonly diagnosed in females, they affect people of all genders, ages, and backgrounds. Men, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people from diverse racial and ethnic groups are often underdiagnosed due to lingering stereotypes.
• Myth: People with eating disorders are always underweight.
  • Reality: Many individuals with eating disorders are at a “normal” weight or even overweight. Disorders like binge eating disorder and atypical anorexia do not necessarily result in extreme thinness, but they are just as serious.
• Myth: Eating disorders are a choice or phase.
  • Reality: Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions influenced by genetics, brain chemistry, and environmental factors. They are not simply a lifestyle choice or a temporary behavior that someone can “snap out of.”
• Myth: Parents are to blame for their child’s eating disorder.
  • Reality: Eating disorders are multifaceted and not caused by one single factor. While family dynamics can play a role, blaming parents oversimplifies the issue and ignores biological and societal influences.
• Myth: Recovery is just about eating normally again.
  • Reality: Recovery involves much more than food—it includes addressing the psychological and emotional aspects of the disorder, developing coping strategies, and rebuilding a positive relationship with one’s body and self.

Future Trends in Eating Disorder Awareness

As awareness of eating disorders grows, so does the need for continued research and better support systems. Here are some key trends shaping the future of eating disorder prevention and treatment:

• The rise of orthorexia – While not yet classified as an official eating disorder, orthorexia involves an obsession with “clean” or “healthy” eating to the point that it becomes restrictive and harmful. Social media trends promoting extreme wellness and diet fads are fueling this concern, making it important for parents to help kids develop balanced, flexible eating habits.
• Increased cases among younger children – Eating disorders are being diagnosed in children as young as 8 or 9 years old, highlighting the importance of early intervention and body-positive messaging from a young age.
• Social media's ongoing impact – Platforms like Instagram and TikTok continue to shape body image ideals, but there’s growing pressure for these companies to regulate harmful content and promote more diverse, realistic body representations.
• Greater recognition of EDs in marginalized communities – Historically, eating disorders have been viewed as affecting primarily young, white females, but more research is highlighting their prevalence in men, LGBTQ+ individuals, and communities of color. Expanding access to culturally competent care is a crucial step forward.
• Advancements in treatment approaches – New therapies, including virtual treatment programs and more personalized approaches based on genetic and psychological factors, are improving recovery outcomes for many individuals.

·         The rise in ED cases since COVID-19 – The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted mental health, leading to a notable increase in eating disorder cases. Factors like social isolation, disrupted routines, heightened stress, and increased time spent online contributed to worsening disordered eating behaviors. Many treatment centers reported a surge in admissions, highlighting the urgent need for expanded resources and support for those affected.

Final Thoughts

Eating disorders are serious, but recovery is absolutely possible. The earlier they’re addressed, the better the outcomes. If you suspect that your child or someone you care about is struggling, don’t hesitate to seek professional support. By fostering open communication and creating a body-positive environment, we can help young people develop a healthy relationship with food and themselves.

Getting Help: Resources for Eating Disorder Support

If you’re concerned about your child or someone you love, you’re not alone, and help is available. The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) provides excellent resources, including a confidential helpline at 1-800-931-2237 and a crisis text line—just text NEDA to 741741. You can also visit www.nationaleatingdisorders.org for more information on treatment options, support groups, and educational materials.