Knowing how to recognize the alarm bells of these disorders is essential for parents and educators in order to be able to activate a request for help as early as possible. But what to be careful exactly? And how to intervene?
That of Food behavior disorders with adolescence It is a long time debated both in the scientific and pedagogical fields. These disorders are unfortunately very widespread and increased following the Covid-19 pandemic, that’s why it is even more urgent and important to spread correct information by the way, teaching people who revolve around the world of teenagers to grasp the alarm bells. This allows you to get to contact the most quick and readiness Specialists in the treatment of these diseases and therefore to support those who suffer from it in the best way.
THE eating disordersin fact, they are psychiatric, complex and serious diseases but from which, with adequate interventions, it can be healed.
How to recognize food behavior disorders in adolescence?
«Marta began to be more and more bad mood, a jump and to carry out more and more physical activity … it was above all the fact that she seemed to me Do not recognize that you have a problem. So I asked the doctor for help … ».
The situation of Marta, a 13 -year -old teenager with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, talks about some of the attitudes and of the Symptoms of eating disorders in adolescence More common, including the denial of the disease itself by those who get sick, the onset of problems in nutrition, changes in mood and carrying out physical activity.
Know Recognize eating disorders in adolescenceor rather the possible alarm bells, it is essential for parents and educators in order to be able to activate a request for help as early as possible. It is above all important to know that food disorders are psychiatric diseases that lead to aalteration in food consumption And which have significant consequences on physical health, as well as on psychological and social functioning. Being complex diseases there is not only one cause that can explain its onset, but we speak of risk factors (biological, psychological and socio-environmental) that can prepare and make the debut more likely. They are usually more frequent among females in the age group between 12 and 25 years oldbut they can also affect males and all age groups.
But What exactly be careful? It is very important to observe the adolescent behavior during meals. Typically you can see a variation of the food rules and a refusal of hunger and brammother of food, a tendency to cover weight loss (wearing wide clothes), a greater interest in food (for example cooking for others), interest in recipe books to lose weight, a fixation with the count of calories.
Other typical behaviors And to be attentive are:
- He eats only small portions as he claims not to feel the need to feed as much as others;
- goes to the bathroom frequently During and after meals (a smell of vomiting present at home and excessive use of deodorants can be associated with this behavior);
- tendency to isolate themselves from the others and a change of mood tone;
- The usual physical exercises can be increased in number and intensity, having become more rigorous, rigid and exhausting.
When to worry about eating disorders in adolescence?
THE symptoms Usually they are hidden or denied by the adolescent (for example, vomiting without being seen) and can be different depending on the type of disorder. THE Eating behavior disorders More widespread, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and uncontrolled eating disorder.
- In the’Anorexia Nervosa A marked reduction in food intake is observed, associated with a strong fear of gaining weight and excessive push to thinness despite the teenager is already underweight or lean/o. Episodes of self -induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives or diuretics and excessive exercise as well as the absence of a menstrual cycle can also be added.
- In the Bulimia nervosa Frequent episodes of “binges” are observed, then followed by compensatory pipelines to avoid weight gain, such as self -induced vomiting, fasting, excessive exercise or improper use of laxative or diuretics.
- In the uncontrolled eating disorder On the other hand, frequent episodes of bingeing unanswered are observed. During the binges the teenager eats much faster than normal, to feel excessively full/a. Usually the binges take place in solitude and are experienced with shame and disgust by the adolescent himself, until he has subsequent deep feelings of sadness and guilt. The disorder is associated with serious obesity.
As we said, the symptoms of these disorders they tend to be hidden. The binges are typically in solitude (therefore it is important to note if there is no frequent food from the pantry, especially biscuits, ice cream or sweet and savory snacks), as well as i laxative oi diuretics They can be purchased secretly with weekly paghetta, physical activity can be carried out in its own bedroom … Learning to “read” and intercept these behaviors can help for identify the existence of the disorder and activate the request for help.
What to do and to whom to contact for food disorders
Let’s see step by step What to do in case of eating disorders in teenagers.
First of all it is important be aware of what these problems representwho are not the whims of adolescents but serious diseases and series of which an individual does not ill with voluntarily ill. Then it is necessary to recognize the symptoms we have spoken previously and know them observe without judgment. If there are alarm bells, it is useful to be able to compare yourself with other family members, with teachers, friends and all the significant people who revolve around the adolescent, to check if they too have noted of the changes and have an overall picture.
It is then important that the parents open an empathic dialogue With the teenager himself, expressing their concerns and their displeasure with the appropriate calm and in the absence of judgment. It’s good avoid do it/to feel guiltywrong/a sick/a, and avoid talking about these aspects at the time of meals (better to choose a quiet moment that favors the possibility of a better dialogue, which makes the teenager feel included in his difficulty). For encourage empathic communication And a greater emotional approach between the parents and the teenager it is good to keep in mind what Gordon defined the communication barrierswhich can provide us with a useful map on what it is preferable not to do. Among these, avoid: to preach, reproach, criticize, ridicule, minimize. These attitudes, in fact, lead not only to a closure of the teenager but to a reinforcement of his experiences of inadequacy and solitude.
It is then fundamental Contact the general practitioner or the pediatrician to be able to request Access to specialized services in the eating disorders present in the area. This is in order to make an in -depth evaluation and confirm the diagnosis, to then activate an appropriate treatment program. These pathologies, in fact, need specialized services that provide for multidisciplinary and integrated interventions, or a therapeutic project psychiatric, nutritional and psychological type. From eating disorders you can heal and the role of those close to those who get sick are of great importance to activate the Request for help and during the treatment path.
