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Three Methods:Does your teen have bulimia?Does your teen have anorexia?What To Do

Anorexia and bulimia nervosa are serious, dangerous illnesses that occur astonishingly often in many people, especially teenagers. The following are things to look for if you are worried about your child. This, however, will not always work. If you are reasonably worried but can't find signs, going to a doctor or therapist could still be the smartest choice.

EditMethod 1 of 3: Does your teen have bulimia?

  1. 1
    Your child (I use that term loosely in this article; it is likely that the kid you are worried about is a teenager) will be overly concerned about calories, fat, and food in general.
    • Check whether your child always reads the ingredients lists on containers, bottles, and boxes of food and drinks. They are probably looking for the fat percentages.
    • Check whether your child suddenly quits eating a food that they used to love (specifically if they answer your questions with "because it's fattening" or "my friends don't eat that anymore").
  2. 2
    Your child will be binging.
    • Binging is "a period of excessive or uncontrolled indulgence in food or drink."
    • They will hide out in their rooms or in the bathroom, consuming large quantities of food and hiding the containers or wrappers. Look for these wrappers, especially if a child has recently started keeping their own wastebasket in their room.
    • At family meals, most bulimics eat normally, without picking or overstocking.
  3. 3
    Your child will be purging.
    • Purging is "to remove impurities . . . by cleansing."
    • In other words, your child will be either vomiting or excreting feces much, much more often than usual.
    • Commonly, the child will consume laxatives, which will help them purge. Laxatives are very dangerous for the body.
    • Look for wrappers in trash cans. If a toilet or sink is regularly stuffed, your child might be trying to hide the wrappers by flushing or drowning them.
    • If your child's toilet (if they use their own) or the family toilet is suddenly very clean, the child might be doing it to remove evidence of their purging.
  4. 4
    Listen carefully to detect lies in their stories concerning both food and visiting friends.
    • If they claim that they ate something, but they didn't, that's a bad sign.
    • If they say they didn't eat something, but that bag of chips just mysteriously disappeared, that's a bad sign too.
    • Visiting friends is a great excuse not to be checked up on while purchasing laxatives or other drugs, or finding places to binge or purge.
  5. 5
    There are many physical signs, including:
    • scars, calluses, cuts, or bruises on fingers, which is a sign of forced vomiting
    • hair becoming thin, greasy, or falling out
    • skin becoming drab and colorless
    • eyes gaining a glassy sheen
    • droopy lips
  6. 6
    Females will develop personal physical symptoms, such as:
    • going off their period. if you notice that your daughter has not been using pads or napkins, and doesn't complain at all about stomach cramps, or doesn't have mood swings during their time of the month, something may be wrong.
    • going down a bra size, even if it seems like the rest of their body isn't changing.

EditMethod 2 of 3: Does your teen have anorexia?

  1. 1
    Again, your child will be overly obsessive with ingredients and percentages from fat, although at a much more manic level than a bulimic person.
    • You might catch your child muttering to themselves about fat, or trying to calculate fat percentages.
    • When you see your child snacking (if you ever do; if you don't, that's also a problem), they will most likely only eat foods such as apple slices, berries, and bananas, never pretzels or chocolates.
  2. 2
    Sometimes, your child just won't eat. At some stage during your child's battle with anorexia, you will notice that they simply aren't eating, even during family meals. They will be creative about keeping you from noticing, though. You need to be aware.
    • They may feed their portion to a dog or cat.
    • They may place a napkin in their lap and fold food into it, then throw it out or flush it down the toilet after dinner.
    • They may spread their food out on the plate to make it look like they've consumed more than they have.
    • They may offer quickly to wash the dishes or clear the table so you don't see how full their plate is after dinner.
    • They may hide food in their pockets.
    • They may talk a lot or pretend to be worried about something so that food isn't what's on your mind.
    • They may say they don't like the food, and that they don't want you to go to the trouble of making another portion for them.
    • They may claim that they've had a big lunch, when they have, in fact, probably eaten next to nothing.
  3. 3
    Again, your child may lie about their eating habits. Usually, this is harder to detect because it's much harder to catch a person not doing something (such as not eating) than doing something (such as binging and purging). Common lies are:
    • "I've eaten a big breakfast/lunch/dinner; I'm not hungry."
    • "I ate at my friend's house."
    • "I have a stomachache/headache; I think I'll lie down while you eat."
    • "I'll have a snack later."
  4. 4
    People with anorexia often exercise much more than regular people, on a much smaller diet. Consequences can be fatal. If your child is typically tired, out of breath, asking for/taking medicine for headaches/stomachaches, or dehydrated, this could be because of anorexia.
  5. 5
    There are many physical signs of anorexia.
    • Your child's hair may become thin, greasy, or just fall out.
    • Skin will take on a bluish tinge (such as from lack of oxygen), which they might try to cover with bronzer, blush, or concealer.
    • Eyes will become small and dark.
    • Stomach will become very concave, until you can see their ribs.
    • Bones will protrude and seem to poke through the skin.
  6. 6
    Your child will lose pounds and drop clothing sizes too quickly.
  7. 7
    Again, your daughter may lose her period.

EditMethod 3 of 3: What To Do

  1. 1
    Don't be rash or hasty. Think before taking steps. Don't march up to your child and yell in their face. Don't dial the hospital and start crying. Sit down, either by yourself (or with your significant other if you have one that is involved in your child's life) and think everything through.
  2. 2
    Don't involve people who don't need to be involved. Don't discuss it with your colleagues at work, unless you specifically know that one of your close friends has gone through this and may have suggestions. Don't nag your child in front of their friends.
  3. 3
    If you do choose to talk about the situation with your child, be frank and honest. Don't beat around the bush or hint at what's going on. You're not doing anyone a favor. You'll get nervous and panic, and your child will know exactly what you're talking about anyway. Two good things to say are:
    • "Hey, I've been noticing that you haven't been eating. Has your stomach been hurting?"
    • "You've lost a lot of weight in the past few weeks/months. Are you proud of yourself?"
  4. 4
    It's very important to trust your child. Don't assume that you know what's going on. It might be something else. Let them open up, and have a real conversation without a persistent underlying assumption. Also, don't make pointed comments. Don't smirk and act like you understand everything. Additionally, and this is so crucial: don't treat your child like anorexia or bulimia (or anything else they may be going through) isn't a real problem. It is. Treat it that way.
  5. 5
    If you really do get the sense that there is a serious issue, call your child's doctor or pediatrician and request an appointment, without your child the first time. State your concerns calmly, and ask what the doctor thinks. Then leave it to them. If they want to see your child, be honest with them. Here are a couple of ways to explain the situation to your child:
    • "Hey, kiddo, I was worried because you look like you lost a lot of weight too quickly. The doctor just wants to make sure you're healthy."
    • "I don't think you're enjoying one of life's finest pleasures anymore: food. The doctor wants to check if there's a problem."
  6. 6
    Even if your child did need to lose some weight, never act like being anorexic or bulimic was the right thing to do. It wasn't. It never is.

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EditTips

  • Even if your child is obese, anorexia and bulimia is not a healthy way to lose weight.
  • Boys, too, can be anorexic or bulimic.
  • Being paranoid is not good for anyone. Look carefully for the signs before taking hasty action.
  • Don't pry, or your child will close up. They will accuse you of not trusting them and being too aggressive, whether or not they actually are anorexic or bulimic. Know your child's limits, and your own.

EditWarnings

  • Making assumptions is hugely dangerous. Don't do it.
  • Don't flip out and yell at your child. Have a worthwhile conversation after you've collected yourself.

EditSources and Citations

  • The Free Dictionary (www.thefreedictionary.com)

Article Info

Categories: Eating Disorders | Health for Teens and Kids

Recent edits by: Andrew, Joyana

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