Eating Disorders in Youths: Risk Factors, Statistics, and Recovery

Thrive • Sep 29, 2021

EATING DISORDER TRIGGERS IN YOUTHS

Dangerous and deadly, eating disorders are psychological illnesses that fatally claim one out of ten of their victims. There are a variety of societal, cultural, and environmental influences that can lead to the development of eating disorders, which we’ll explore below. At an impressionable age, youths can be more affected by these factors than adults. In fact, the average age of onset for eating disorders is 12 to 13 years old.

It is important to be aware of common risk factors for youth eating disorders, which include:

Family Influences: Family eating behaviors such as dieting and counting calories can serve as dangerous models for youths. Children of parents who are overly concerned about their weight tend to face an increased risk of developing eating disorders.
Culture and Media: Youths are influenced by media and cultural body image standards as early as elementary school. According to research cited by the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) , of elementary school girls who read magazines, 69 percent say that the pictures influence their concept of the ideal body shape, and 47 percent of them say the pictures made them want to lose weight.
Weight-Based Victimization: Weight stigma consists of discriminatory behavior and ideas about body shape and size. Victims of weight stigma may develop resulting depression, low self-esteem, and body dissatisfaction — all of which can lead to eating disorders, especially in youth.
Dieting Culture: Dieting at a young age can also be a major factor in the development of eating disorders. According to research cited by NEDA , in comparison to adolescents who did not diet, those who dieted moderately were five times more likely to develop an eating disorder, and those who practiced extreme food restriction were 18 times more likely to develop an eating disorder.
Competitive Athletics: Another risk factor for developing an eating disorder as a youth is being a competitive athlete. According to research cited by NEDA , athletes competing in sports that emphasized diet, appearance, size and weight were most at risk. One study cited by NEDA found that 35 percent of female and 10 percent of male college athletes were at risk for anorexia nervosa and 58 percent of female and 38 percent of male college athletes were at risk for bulimia nervosa.

TYPES OF EATING DISORDERS

Just like adults, youths are at risk for developing anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), among others.

Discover how these eating disorders show up in the youth demographic below, according to research and statistics distributed by NEDA .

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by inadequate caloric intake, excessive exercise, and malnourishment. Between .3 and .4 percent of young women and .1 percent of young men will suffer from anorexia nervosa. Young people between the ages of 15 and 24 with anorexia have 10 times the risk of dying compared to their same-aged peers.

Binge Eating Disorder

Episodes of overeating and feelings of loss of control about eating are signs of binge eating disorder. The illness often begins in the late teens or early twenties, but it has also been reported in young children.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is characterized by episodes of bingeing followed by purging, fasting, or exercising excessively. At any given point in time, one percent of young women and .1 percent of young men will meet diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervosa.

ARFID

Children who suffer from ARFID have difficulty eating due to a lack of interest, sensory aversions, or worry that may choke, vomit, or experience pain. One study showed that adolescents with ARFID were more likely to be younger and male.

YOUTH EATING DISORDER TREATMENT AT THRIVE

Thrive is dedicated to stopping youth eating disorders in their tracks through holistic, multidisciplinary, and targeted eating disorder treatment . Our team includes primary care clinicians, therapists, psychiatrists, nutritionists, and mindful movement specialists who all collaborate to provide integrated care.

Our eating disorder treatment programs welcome adolescents, and we even offer a specialized eating disorder treatment program tailored specifically to youths. Thrive Sacramento’s Family Intensive Outpatient Program caters to adolescents and their families. The program begins with two days of intensive treatment and education followed by individual therapy, family therapy, psychoeducation, and clinical support for nine to twelve months. For more information about our eating disorder treatment services, feel free to reach out to us .

The post Eating Disorders in Youths: Risk Factors, Statistics, and Recovery first appeared on Thrive Wellness.

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Clean House, Healthy Mind: Spring Cleaning Benefits for Mental Health

By Sage Tippie • 23 Apr, 2024

Spring Cleaning Benefits for Mental Health Spring is a time of new beginnings, change, and transitions, including in our homes. With the warmer weather kicking motivation into high gear, Spring can be a prime time to do a deep clean. Not only is a clean space aesthetically pleasing to the eyes, but it can also help to improve your mental health. Learn about how tidying up your space can also tidy up your thoughts below along with tips for cleaning when you’re struggling with your mental health. 4 Reasons Why Cleaning is Beneficial to Mental health 1.Decreased Stress Not only does an uncluttered space provide a sense of calm, but the physical act of cleaning can release feel-good endorphins, reducing feelings of stress and anxiety. As you cross tasks off your checklist, your body also releases Dopamine. Also known as the “happy hormone”, Dopamine provides a sense of accomplishment and pride that can promote motivation in other areas of our lives. 2. Improved Focus Studies have shown that an uncluttered space can also lead to an uncluttered mind. Your focus can be drawn away from important tasks by a chaotic, messy space. Research has also shown a connection between procrastination and clutter, as an unwillingness to tackle larger chores like cleaning can translate over into various areas of our lives. By keeping your space tidy, it can inspire you to stay on top of other major tasks like work and school assignments. 3. Regulated Emotions According to this 2015 study , cleaning can function as a practice in mindfulness, providing an increased sense of calm and inspiration. Slowing down while cleaning gives you room to relax and free your mind of burdens, stressors, and irritants that can affect your mental health. Cleaning can even be considered a practice of self-care as the action helps you to connect with yourself and the outcome allows you to better enjoy your own space. 4. Sense of Order and Control When experiencing mental health struggles, people may feel a lack of control over their lives and emotions. Cleaning even small areas of the home can provide an increased sense of order and control as you cross tasks off your to-do list. Through realizing your own power by simply completing minor tasks like cleaning, it can reaffirm your ability to do more. 10 Tips for Cleaning When Struggling with Mental Health Mental health struggles and disorders commonly create barriers to one’s ability to clean and properly practice personal hygiene. Although these behaviors are normal side effects of mental health disorders, we want to work to aid our clients in cleaning to the best of their ability even in difficult times. Below, Thrive Wellness occupational therapist Meadow Deason shares some helpful tips she gives to clients when they struggle with cleaning due to mental health conditions: 1.Ask For Help Having support to clean can make a huge difference. Do the cleaning with the person helping you and have them hold you accountable. 2. Don't Wait for Motivation Motivation might not come before action, but it can build as you begin to see the results of your efforts. 3. Start Small Start with one area or one task and go from there. For example, concentrate on your bedroom first and then move on to the living room and bathroom. 4. Do Something Daily Even if you do only one small cleaning task a day, doing that one task creates momentum and prevents small tasks from building up and becoming overwhelming. 5. Use Sensory Modulation Change your environment by playing music, adjusting the lighting, or using aromatherapy. This can help to put you in a new headspace for cleaning. 6. Start with "High Impact" Tasks Start with more intensive or all-over cleaning tasks such as picking up clutter or doing the dishes. The visual "noise" of some tasks makes a large impact on the entire space, building motivation to continue cleaning. 7. Make a To-Do List Write a detailed to-do list of tasks and cross them off as you go. Physically marking down what you’ve accomplished can promote increased motivation. 8. Reward Yourself Set up a reward system where you reward yourself with a favorite activity or item when you complete a task as an incentive to clean. 9. Use the Rocket Method Don't think about it, just choose a task, countdown from five or ten and then start. This can help you to avoid potential anxiety and dread that can prevent you from cleaning. 10. Gamify Tasks Make up a game for your tasks or time yourself to promote increased engagement in cleaning. Your ability to complete tasks can be affected by a multitude of different factors and conditions including OCD , anxiety, depression , ADHD , and more. If you are struggling with motivation due to your mental health, help is here at Thrive Wellness.

child getting bandaid from doctor while mother smiles

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