According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), every 52 minutes, someone in America dies from an eating disorder. These conditions are among the deadliest of all mental illnesses, yet they’re often dismissed as phases, diets gone too far, or problems that only affect a certain type of person. The truth is eating disorders don’t discriminate. They affect people of every age, race, body size, and background. 

For teens, the risk is especially high. The CDC reports that emergency department visits for eating disorders among adolescents increased 55% compared to pre-pandemic levels. Disrupted routines, social isolation, and increased social media use created a perfect storm, and those effects haven’t gone away. If you’re a parent, now is the time to start the conversation. 

By the Numbers

According to ANAD:

• 28.8 million Americans—9% of the U.S. population—will have an eating disorder in their lifetime.
• Fewer than 6% of people with an eating disorder are medically diagnosed as underweight.
• 10,200 deaths a year are the direct result of an eating disorder.
• Non-whites are significantly less likely than whites to have been asked by a doctor about eating disorder symptoms.
• Non-whites with eating disorders are half as likely to be diagnosed or receive treatment.
• Black people are less likely to be diagnosed with anorexia than white people but experience it longer.
• Black teenagers are 50% more likely than white teens to exhibit binge-eating and purging.
• Hispanics are significantly more likely to suffer from bulimia nervosa than non-Hispanics.
• Asian American college students report higher levels of body dissatisfaction than their non-Asian non-white peers.

What to Look For

Eating disorders result from severe disturbances in eating behaviors often related to thoughts and emotions. The person is focused on food, how they look, or their weight. They focus on those things at the exclusion of everything else.

The most common eating disorders and their symptoms:

Anorexia nervosa — People see themselves as overweight and tend to constantly weigh themselves. Those of the restrictive subtype seriously restrict how much they eat. The binge-purge subtype restricts how much they eat, though they may occasionally eat a large amount of food then purge by vomiting or using laxatives. They are dangerously thin. Anorexia can be fatal as organs and muscles can break down.

Bulimia nervosa — People with this condition will frequently eat large amounts of food, feel guilty about it, then purge, exercise excessively, use laxatives, fast, or a combination of all these behaviors. The vomiting can lead to damaged teeth, acid reflux, and dehydration.

Binge-eating disorder — A person will lose control of their eating and recurrently eat large amounts of food. They are often obese because the excessive eating is never followed by purging, fasting, or excessive exercise. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, binge-eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the U.S., with a lifetime prevalence of 2.8%.

Talking to Your Teen

There are several reasons people can develop eating disorders. Research shows a potential genetic link—heritability accounts for 28% to 74% of eating disorder risk, meaning people who have siblings or parents with an eating disorder are more likely to develop an eating disorder themselves. Depression and anxiety are often linked with eating disorders, with over 70% of people with eating disorders also having other mental health conditions. 

Preventing an eating disorder starts with open communication about body image and diet.

• Encourage healthy habits — Talk about how energy, appearance, and health are affected by diet. Encourage teens to only eat when hungry. Provide a good example.
• Talk about media messages — Encourage teens to question what they see in the media about body types.
• Discuss healthy body image — Reassure them that healthy body shapes aren’t uniform. Don’t joke about ANYONE’s looks or use hurtful nicknames based on someone’s appearance.
• Promote self-esteem — Honor your teen’s accomplishments. Listen to them and look for positive qualities. Let them know you love and accept them unconditionally. It doesn’t matter how they look or what they weigh.
• Talk about the dangers — Let your teen know it can affect their growth and long-term health. Emotional eating can lead to dangerous conditions. Let them know they can always talk to you about their feelings instead of turning to food.

AltaMed Is Here to Help

AltaMed’s experienced Behavioral Health team is staffed with licensed clinical social workers who speak English and Spanish and are trained to help cope with life’s stressors. Short-term therapy is available, and we can connect members with mental health services if long-term therapy or other support is needed. If you need help talking to a loved one, there are resources available to you. Call us at (855) 425-1777 to get started.