Eating Disorder Help for Teens

As a high school teacher, I spend close to eight hours a day around teenagers. I get to observe them in their most natural setting, and see how they act around their friends. This is quite different from how they are at home with Mom and Dad, which allows me to pick up on things that parents might never notice. That's why whenever I see a student in need of eating disorder help, I'm sure to let our guidance counselors know right away so they in turn can inform the family.

Unfortunately, anorexia and bulimia are still very problematic in today's society, particularly among teenage girls. I won't bother speculating where the issues start, because in all honesty it doesn't matter if it's Hollywood's fault or Vanity Fair's fault or the parents' fault. The bottom line is that lots of girls are suffering and need eating disorder help from qualified professionals in order to achieve change and turn their lives around.

Because we encounter these disorders more than you can begin to imagine, the school has a list of safe, private facilities that can provide proper treatment in a supportive environment. Many of the students we talk to aren't even aware that eating disorder help is available, which I think is sad ... and dangerous. Some of the girls feel so alone in their troubles that they end up suffering from severe anxiety and depressing, and a few have even confessed to having suicidal thoughts. That's why getting the word out by letting people know about eating disorder help options in their area is a critical step in the right direction.

For teachers, parents, and others interested in steering teens towards eating disorder help, the first step is to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of anorexia and bulimia. There are many, but some of the most prominent include: obsessively worrying about calorie and fat content of food, use of over-the-counter or prescription diet pills or laxatives, frequent lamentations about being fat or overweight (even when that's clearly not the case), rapid or excessive weight loss, highly restrictive food consumption during mealtimes, and frequent or prolonged trips to the bathroom after meals. If you notice any of these signs, it could signal that the person in question needs eating disorder help immediately.

Once the problem is recognized and acknowledged, the treatment and healing can begin. Most programs work on changing the patient's attitudes towards food, stressing the need for healthy choices and a positive body image regardless of what they might see on TV or in magazines.

If you or someone you love needs eating disorder help, the time to act is right now. Find a clinic or treatment center in your area, and begin the healing process today.