Abstract
Eating disorders, particularly anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, are a significant concern among adolescents. These diseases may be brought on by hormonal changes that occur during puberty and cultural pressure to adhere to a particular body type. Additionally, teenagers with eating problems can benefit from treatment, medication, and dietary instruction. For the best results, it is critical to treat teenage eating disorders early on with various therapies. This paper seeks to analyze adolescent eating disorders’ causes, signs, and treatments by synthesizing recent studies. The literature review will concentrate on the causes, such as pressure from society to fit into a particular body type and changes in hormone levels during adolescence. It will also review the symptoms of Adolescent Eating Disorders. The research will also go through the many available therapies, such as counseling, medication, and nutrition instruction. The paper’s conclusion reiterates the importance of addressing teenage eating disorders and efficient treatment methods.
Introduction
Eating disorders have become a severe issue for clinicians and researchers since the release of the DSM-5 in 2013. They are among the most common mental health issues affecting teenagers and young adults. More than 40% of adolescents have eating disorders, with binge eating disorders being the most prevalent (Eskander et al., 2020). More research has revealed that those with binge eating disorders are more likely to experience additional mental health issues like depression and anxiety disorders. Even though there is still no universal agreement on what constitutes an eating problem, it can undoubtedly have significant adverse effects on people if addressed. Leaving them untreated for a long time might be fatal (Eskander et al., 2020). Although this may sound extreme, many people who battled eating disorders lost their lives due to their battles; thus, it is a severe public health concern. These disorders can have serious long-term effects, including medical, psychological, and social issues among adolescents. Societal beliefs and behaviors toward food, weight, and body shape define them. According to recent research, the emergence of adolescent eating disorders is influenced by several genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. This paper aims to review recent findings about adolescent eating disorders’ causes, signs, symptoms, and treatment.
Literature Review
Causes of Adolescent Eating Disorders
Firstly, the pressure from society to have a particular body type significantly influences adolescent eating disorder development. Adolescents, especially girls, are constantly exposed to pictures of skinny, conventionally attractive models and celebrities in the media. They may feel pressured to live up to this ideal to fit in with their classmates (Wilksch et al., 2019). Many young adults mainly discover their identities online, where they could run into “pro-anorexia” websites where adolescent girls can interact with others who have had similar experiences. According to studies, exposure to thin-ideal media images raises adolescent girls’ body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, and disorderly eating practices (Wilksch et al., 2019). Additionally, a study by Potterton et al. 2019, demonstrated that even in girls who did not already have a pre-existing susceptibility to eating disorders, exposure to thin-ideal images were linked to the start of eating disorder symptoms.
Secondly, according to studies (Dahill et al., 2021), children who experience parental beauty or weight taunts are more likely to experience eating disorders and other psychopathologies linked to eating issues. The actions of children and adolescents, as well as their anxiety, self-esteem, and feeling of self-efficacy about their health and welfare, are significantly shaped by their parents and other primary caregivers. Therefore, parents are to blame for their adolescent’s eating issues (Dahill et al., 2021). The potential for negative impact should be considered as a possible influence or association when people close to them criticize them through body shaming, which is believed to denounce via possible misunderstandings in humor, mocking, and joking in communication styles. Additionally, parental rejection has been effectively linked with contemporaneous emotional eating, psychological suffering, and nervous tension in adolescents.
Thirdly, the onset of eating disorders in adolescents can also be influenced by hormone level changes during puberty. Teenagers go through many physical and mental changes, and these changes in hormone levels can result in various physical and emotional symptoms, like changes in appetite and body weight (American Psychiatric Association, 2021). According to research, puberty increases the incidence of eating problems, especially in girls (American Psychiatric Association, 2021). Additionally, a study conducted by Potterton et al. (2019) discovered that adolescent females’ higher dissatisfaction with the body and disordered eating practices were linked to increased estrogen levels during puberty.
Lastly, adolescent eating disorders might be caused by genetic factors. Much research looked at the conceivable genetic link between anorexia Nervosa and bulimia nervosa. According to a study by Eskander et al. (2020) on female twin pairs, distinct genetic factors impact the development of anorexia Nervosa and bulimia nervosa. In concurrent cases, family, environmental, and genetic factors may all be present. Additionally, the study postulated that anorexia Nervosa and bulimia nervosa share a heritable link because both disorders involve binge eating and compensatory behaviors. Also, People who have first-degree relatives who have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) are more prone to drink than people who do not, according to a study by Eskander et al. (2020). Findings from the study suggest that having EDS-positive first-degree relative is more likely to exacerbate adolescent Eating disorders than to cause them.
Symptoms of Adolescent Eating Disorder
Significant weight loss and a fixation with food and weight are among the signs of anorexia nervosa. The weight of adolescents with eating disorders is another aspect of their body image that is frequently misunderstood. Both the individual’s actual weight and perceived weight are included in this. According to Sander et al. (2021), individuals with anorexic eating disorders frequently fear gaining weight and may practice restrictive eating habits and excessive activity. Findings demonstrate how this anxiety might cause people to engage in risky behaviors like skipping meals or exercising excessively to maintain their target body weight (Sander et al., 2021). Binge eating episodes frequently followed by compensatory behaviors like self-induced vomiting, abusing laxatives, or excessive exercise define bulimia nervosa.
In addition, amenorrhea, dental issues, and electrolyte imbalances are other typical signs of adolescent eating disorders. Psychological symptoms like depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem may also be present in people with eating disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 2023). According to research, eating disorders often start between adolescence and the early stages of adulthood. Furthermore, studies have discovered a link between the emergence of eating disorders in adolescents and several personality traits, including perfectionism, high neuroticism, and low self-esteem (Sander et al., 2021).
Adolescent Eating Disorders Treatment
Firstly, CBT (cognitive-behavioral therapy) is a popular and scientifically supported treatment for adolescent EDs. It seeks to alter unfavorable attitudes and actions towards food and body image. CBT can be administered either individually or in a group environment and has been proven to be successful in lowering the symptoms of bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. There is also proof that family-based therapy (FBT) can successfully treat adolescent anorexia nervosa. FBT focuses on including parents and caregivers in therapy and seeks to improve family dynamics and get the adolescent back to a healthy weight (Craig et al., 2019).
Antidepressants are another therapy option for adolescent eating disorders. Bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder symptoms can be effectively treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (BED). However, these drugs should be taken along with psychological therapy because they do not deal with the underlying psychological problems that cause EDs. Additionally, there is proof that art therapy and psychodynamic therapy effectively treat adolescent EDs (Craig et al., 2019). While art therapy can help teenagers express their emotions and experiences linked to eating disorders, psychodynamic therapy investigates the psychological issues that underlie the development of an ED.
Additionally, nutrition education is a critical component of treating teenage eating disorders. People who struggle with eating disorders have erroneous views of nutrition and may not be aware of the value of specific nutrients, such as protein and vitamins, for preserving good health (Craig et al., 2019). A trained dietician can offer advice on how to attain an excellent dietary balance and assist in educating people with eating disorders about the value of nutrition for general health (Craig et al., 2019). Nutritional counseling can help adolescents develop healthy eating habits and improve their relationship with food, while medical monitoring can ensure that any physical complications of the ED are addressed.
Conclusion
Adolescent eating disorders are a severe public health concern, affecting 2% of teenagers with anorexia nervosa and 1% with bulimia nervosa. These illnesses may result in severe long-term consequences, such as physical, psychological, and social problems. Researchers in the field have found numerous potential causes and risk factors for these illnesses, including genetic predisposition, social pressure to conform to a particular body type, genetic factors, and hormone levels during adolescence. Their abnormal attitudes and actions concerning food, weight, and body type serve as defining characteristics. They are characterized by various symptoms, which may adversely affect the body and the mind. Significant weight loss, a misaligned perception of one’s body, and a concern with food and weight are all signs of anorexia nervosa. People who suffer from anorexia frequently fear gaining weight, which may lead them to practice restrictive eating habits and excessive activity. Binge eating episodes frequently followed by compensatory behaviors like self-induced vomiting, abusing laxatives, or excessive exercise define bulimia nervosa. Amenorrhea, dental issues, and electrolyte imbalances are typical signs of adolescent eating disorders. Psychological symptoms like despair, anxiety, and low self-esteem can also occur in people with eating disorders.
According to research, treatment for eating disorders includes cognitive behavioral therapy, family-based therapy, and interpersonal therapy, especially when paired with nutrition counseling. To help manage symptoms, doctors may also prescribe drugs like antidepressants. Hospitalization may be required to handle the physical implications of the illness in extreme circumstances. Early detection of these signs and immediate management is essential for better results and for avoiding long-term consequences. It is imperative to deal with these problems and offer teenagers with eating disorders proper treatment.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2021, March). What are Eating Disorders? apa@psych.org. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/eating-disorders/what-are-eating-disorders
Craig, M., Waine, J., Wilson, S., & Waller, G. (2019). Optimizing treatment outcomes in adolescents with eating disorders: The potential role of cognitive behavioral therapy. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 52(5), 538–542. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23067
Dahill, L. M., Touyz, S., Morrison, N. M., & Hay, P. (2021). Parental appearance teasing in adolescence and associations with eating problems: A systematic review. BMC Public Health, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10416-5
Eskander, N., Chakrapani, S., & Ghani, M. R. (2020). The risk of substance use among adolescents and adults with eating disorders. Cureus, 12(9). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.10309
Potterton, R., Richards, K., Allen, K., & Schmid, U. (2019, January 31). Eating disorders during emerging adulthood: A systematic scoping review. Frontiers. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.03062/full
Sander, J., Moessner, M., & Bauer, S. (2021). Depression, anxiety and eating disorder-related impairment: Moderators in female adolescents and young adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(5), 2779. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052779
Wilksch, S. M., O’Shea, A., Ho, P., Byrne, S., & Wade, T. D. (2019). The relationship between social media use and disordered eating in young adolescents. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 53(1), 96–106. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23198
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