Eating Disorders are commonly present during the adolescent years, age 14-18. As with children who develop Eating Disorders, adolescents tend to have Anorexia Nervosa, with or without binge/purging behavior. Prior to development of the Eating Disorder, most adolescents would be described as academically rigorous, perfectionist, and generally ‘good’ kids who caused no difficulty for their parents.
Signs of Anorexia Nervosa in Adolescents
- Controlling weight through the refusal of food (often secretively)
- Use of excessive exercise either in socially acceptable means or secretively
- Purging, and other inappropriate forms of compensation, such as diuretics or laxatives.
- Rapid loss in weight or will maintain weight, instead of normal growth patterns
Results if not Treated Properly
Medical complications of an Eating Disorder at this age include loss of bone density, possible loss of height potential, abnormal heart rhythms, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies, in addition to a loss or delay of menses in appropriately aged girls, which may have long-term consequences.
The treatment program at CCED utilizes the Maudsley Method, which was developed particularly for working with children and adolescents in a family-based setting and shows high levels of success.