I’m a psychotherapist – here’s how to spot an eating disorder in your child as cases soar in teenage girls
A PSYCHOTHERAPIST has shared how parents can spot signs of an eating disorder in their child, as the number suffering from one saw a 'staggering rise' during the Covid pandemic.
A study of anonymised GP records from 2020 and 2022 revealed higher than expected diagnoses of eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia in teenage girls.
While experts anticipated around 2,700 diagnoses of eating disorders among 13- to 16-year-olds, they observed 3,862 - 42 per cent more than the expected figure.
The research team also noted that cases of self-harm were 38 per cent higher than expected for the same group.
Eating disorders rose above expectations for 17- to 19-year-olds too.
Tom Quinn, director of external affairs at eating disorder charity , called the rise in diagnoses "shocking but sadly not surprising".
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"During the height of the pandemic we saw demand for our Helpline services spike by 300 per cent and it is still remaining high," he said.
"We also know that the NHS is treating more children and young people than ever before, with healthcare professionals under huge amounts of strain."
The study - published in the - also found diagnoses were highest among girls living in wealthier areas, raising 'questions around care inequality', according to Beat.
Tom said: "The rise in diagnoses in less deprived areas cannot be attributed to any one cause, but in general people in those areas will have easier access to primary care, making it more likely that eating disorders will be spotted earlier.
"We know there is still a postcode lottery and these gaps must be addressed so that everyone can get the help they need as quickly as possible."
Speaking to the Sun, Tom noted that eating disorders are "complex mental illnesses that affect 1.25million people of all ages, genders and backgrounds in the UK".
As as nobody will experience an eating disorder in the same way, he acknowledged it can feel difficult to know which warning signs to look out for.
But he outlined a few key symptoms parents might notice in their kids that could indicate they are struggling.
1. Preoccupation with food and anxiety at meal times
According to Kerrie, a psychotherapist specialising in the treatment of eating disorders, preoccupation with food and eating is a very common sign.
"This may appear as someone becoming hyper-focused on food and the nutritional content, counting calories, categorising foods as strictly ‘good’ or ‘bad'," she explained.
"Your child may appear very anxious at mealtimes, struggle to eat certain foods, or eat in front of others.
"They may request to prepare the food themselves or develop rigid food 'rituals', i.e. methodical and repeated behaviours to help them feel in control."
She gave the examples of a child cutting their food into very small pieces and taking a very long time to eat a meal.
Tom, meanwhile, said parents should be on the lookout for "strict dieting, avoiding particular foods or exercising more often" as signs that their child "has become fixated on diet or is experiencing sensory issues".
"Hiding food or food unexplainably going missing could indicate that your loved one is struggling with binge eating," he added.
Binge eating refers to when people feel out of control and eat a large quantity of food in a short space of time, the charity director said.
But these signs might also indicate that your child is fixating on particular foods, according to Tom.
"Other warning signs include frequently going to the bathroom after mealtimes, which could indicate they are making themselves sick," he added.
2. Physical changes
If your child is suffering from an eating disorder, they might undergo some physical changes, though that doesn't necessarily mean a change in weight.
Kerrie said: "Someone might struggle with physical activity, become light-headed from regular daily movements like getting off the sofa.
"You may notice them looking pale and tired, struggling with digestive issues and feeling cold, no matter how warm the environment is.
"Some people may notice their menstrual cycles stop from the stress their body is under and dental issues can also arise in someone who is purging by vomiting.
"A significant change in weight is important to take notice of."
Tom said your child might start "wearing loose clothing to hide their body".
But he emphasised that not all people who have an eating disorder will undergo changes to their appearance.
"While there can be physical warning signs, such as weight loss, tiredness or stomach pains, eating disorders are mental illnesses and you cannot tell if someone has an eating disorder just by looking at them," he said.
3. Negative and disordered body image
Kerrie said you might notice your loved one frequently checking and making negative comments about their body weight or shape.
"When looking in the mirror you may notice them grasping or touching parts of their body," she said.
This is called “body checking”.
"For some, how they see their body in the mirror may be completely different to who you see in front of you," Kerrie noted.
4. Fear of gaining weight or preoccupation with thinness
A common red flag to watch out for is a fear of gaining weight or 'pursuing thinness', according to Kerrie.
Your kid "may adopt new diets, cut out certain foods or adopt veganism or vegetarianism in an attempt to remove ‘fear foods’ in a socially acceptable manner", she said.
"You may also notice over-exercising as a way to compensate for eating, or taking frequent trips to the bathroom to purge any food eaten," the psychotherapist went on.
5. Low self-esteem and social withdrawing
Kerrie noted that it's important to pay attention to your child's emotional state.
"Often, as someone’s eating disorder develops their sense of self-worth and mood can rapidly deteriorate," she explained.
The spoke to teenagers Sophie Rowland, 18, and Annabelle, 19, both of whom developed eating disorders as lockdowns took a toll on their mental health.
Annabelle - who received help in overcoming bulimia - described feeling like she had "very little control" over her life.
As her GCSEs were cancelled and movement and mingling was restricted, she began feeling like the only thing she could control was her appearance and what she ate.
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Meanwhile, Sophie began noticing she was obsessing about exercise and "couldn't stop tracking calories".
After confiding in her mum about her struggles, she received treatment for anorexia and received praise for documenting her recovery online.