There are three most common eating disorders that threaten teenagers. Anorexia nervosa reflects the obsessive desire to lose weight and the fear of gaining it, which leads to calorie intake limitations. The main symptoms are anxiety about food intake, low self-esteem, weight loss, and frequent diets. Binge-eating disorder is characterized by a loss of control over eating, resulting in ingesting enormous amounts of food.
Characteristic features are very rapid eating and eating even in the absence of hunger. Finally, bulimia nervosa is similar to the previous disorder but with one crucial factor added: the person experiences guilt for overeating, which is offset by punishment. This behavior is intermittent and repetitive and is indicated by sore throat and dehydration.
Since all of these disorders are primarily mental, the treatment options are mainly similar. For patients with anorexia, family-based therapy is appropriate, in which the whole family helps the adolescent correct the situation. In the context of the other two conditions, the use of antidepressants or mood stabilizers is most often considered.
Teenagers are more at risk of becoming victims of these disorders because of restructuring their bodies and mind during adolescence. They change uncontrollably, which may lead the teenager to regain control by force. In addition, teenagers experience a lot of stress, leading to the development of mental illness. However, these conditions can have serious physical consequences, such as anemia, diabetes, or heart disease.