Eating Disorders in Teens: A Guide for Parents
Eating disorders can affect anyone—regardless of age, gender, or body size. No one is immune. However, this blog focuses specifically on teenagers, a group especially vulnerable to disordered eating of all kinds.The purpose of the blog is to provide tips and support for parents whose teen is struggling or at-risk of disordered eating. This blog is not a substitute for therapy or professional treatment. It’s purpose is solely to raise awareness and provide education for the public.
Eating disorders among teens are quite common, with statistics showing that about 2.7% of teens in the United States struggle with an eating disorder between the ages 13 through 18 (National Institute of Mental Health, 2025). Many teens struggle with different factors such as, but not limited to, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and/or perfectionism; all of which can lead to disordered eating. Additionally, society puts a huge amount of pressure on teens, making many feel like they have to live up to impossible body standards. Also of note, teens are going through puberty, which brings a lot of changes to their bodies. These changes can leave many feeling uncomfortable or unhappy with how they look, sometimes leading to negative body image that can lead to disordered eating behaviors.
Another reason that leads teens to developing eating disorders is being bullied by others about their weight, as they may then become preoccupied with their body image and/or engage in disordered eating habits. As a clinician, one thing I hear from teens all the time is the pressure to fit in and feel accepted. Many share the belief, “If I’m in a bigger body, no one will like me.” This way of thinking ties their self-worth to body size, as if acceptance only comes from fitting into the narrow body ideals that society constantly pushes on someone. On top of these societal expectations, sports can play a big role in the development of eating disorders among teens. Activities like gymnastics, ballet, and even track often come with intense pressure to maintain a certain body type, which can increase the risk of disordered eating among teenagers. The fact is, there isn’t just one cause of eating disorders in teenagers. Instead, it’s often a mix of different influences—like the ones we’ve already talked about above—along with other factors such as family dynamics, genetics, or other underlying mental health struggles.
Tips for Parents of Teens with Eating Disorders
If you’re a parent of a teenager struggling with an eating disorder, you may be wondering where to start. The most important first step is to educate yourself. Take time to learn as much as possible—whether that means connecting with your child’s therapist, doing your own research, reading books, or asking questions during appointments. Every professional you encounter, whether it’s a medical provider, counselor, or registered dietitian, can be a valuable source of guidance as you navigate the path to getting your teen the support they need. When your child does engage in therapy with an Eating Disorder Specialist, it is very important for you to join every single session and take responsibility for the child's weight gain, and still check in once your child has gained weight as that’s often when the real struggle begins.
The therapist should utilize techniques from a Family-Based Therapy model for eating disorders. This model involves the entire family in the recovery process instead of only the child struggling with an eating disorder. Parents are seen as the catalyst for change when it comes to weight restoring and developing healthy eating habits. This approach will allow your family to focus on the problem together without placing blame on each other, as research consistently illustrates a family is not to blame for the presentation for the ED, but is actually rather the role that will aid the most in recovery.. The therapist using Family-Based Therapy is seen as a supportive provider in your journey to achieving recovery for your child.
It is also important for you as a parent to model positive behavior around food and body image. For instance, eating the same meals as your child, having meals together as a family, not discussing food while eating dinner, monitoring positive food behaviors, not talking about how many steps you get in, and not bashing on your own body. When bringing your child to medical appointments, it’s important to request a “blind weight.” This means the provider records your child’s weight without them seeing the number on the scale. For children who may be struggling with disordered eating, seeing their weight can be highly triggering and may reinforce harmful eating disorder behaviors. A blind weight helps keep the focus on their overall health and well-being, rather than a number.
Another recommendation is to motivate your teenager to limit or monitor screen time on their phone, as there have been findings on how social media and overall screen time can become problematic and possibly contribute to the development of disordered eating habits. Sometimes, people can get so absorbed in their phones, computers, or other devices, that they lose track of basic needs like eating. This might look like unintentionally skipping meals because they’re too focused on what’s happening on their screen, or overeating (bingeing) because they aren’t paying attention to how much food they’re consuming (Chu et al., 2024). Over time, these habits can develop into unhealthy eating patterns.
Another reason why limiting screen time may be helpful for your teenager is to reduce the amount of comparison they may engage in when scrolling on social media. Social media platforms can provide your teen with social pressure regarding their appearance. Research shows, when teens spend a lot of time on social media, it can take a toll on how they feel about their bodies. Seeing constant images that promote being thin can create fears about gaining weight and increase pressure to look a certain way at all costs. The more time someone spends scrolling, the easier it is to fall into comparing themself with others online. This pattern of comparison is strongly connected to body dissatisfaction and the desire to be thinner, which can be harmful to both physical and emotional well-being (Chu et al., 2024).
Book Recommendations for Eating Disorders:
Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder By: Johanna S. Kandel - This book is a great read if you are wanting to understand what eating disorder struggles look like from the perspective of someone who struggled with an eating disorder for 10+ years. The author offers her story of how difficult the healing process can be, while also offering hope that recovery is possible. She offers tools that address the daily challenges one may face during recovery. She provides motivational quotes and affirmations to challenge the negative voice of ED and gives feedback on how to strengthen a healthy voice. I definitely recommend this book, and the best part is that it’s such an easy and enjoyable read.
Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia" by Marya Hornbacher - an honest and intimate memoir where the author shares her experiences struggling with anorexia and bulimia from her teenage years into young adulthood. The book delves into the significant physical, emotional, and mental challenges she faced throughout her journey with eating disorders. It offers readers a firsthand look at what it’s like to live with an eating disorder, providing valuable insight for families, caregivers, and anyone wanting to understand the seriousness and complexity of these conditions.
"The Inside Scoop on Eating Disorder Recovery" by Katie Bendel and Jennifer Vittitow - This book offers both a personal experience and professional expertise of eating disorders. The book offers a comprehensive roadmap to recovery. The authors highlight how closely the mind and body are connected, stressing that true recovery involves caring for both mental health and nutritional well-being.
“Father Hunger” by Margo Maine, PhD. - This book shows insight into the role of a Father’s physical and emotional presence in an adolescent's life, and how it interacts with an individual’s eating behavior and overall wellness.
“Sick Enough: A Guide to the Medical Complications of Eating Disorders” by Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani - This book not only sheds light into the potential medical and physical consequences from an eating disorder, but also highlights a common mechanism in the pathology of eating disorders that is the individual believing that they are or are not “sick enough” relating to their severity, experience, and perceived validity.
Most Common Eating Disorders in Teens:
Anorexia Nervosa – A condition marked by extreme restriction of food, an intense fear of weight gain, and seeing one’s body in a distorted way.
Bulimia Nervosa – Involves repeated episodes of overeating, followed by attempts to “undo” it through vomiting, laxatives, or excessive exercise.
Binge Eating Disorder –Characterized by regularly eating large amounts of food in a short time, without purging, and often feeling guilt, shame, or loss of control afterward.
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) – A pattern of highly limited eating, often due to sensory sensitivities (such as taste or texture), fears of choking or vomiting, or simply a lack of interest in food.
OSFED- Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder
For more information on how to support your loved one struggling with an eating disorder, you may contact Maria Ortiz, LMHC, CEDS regarding her virtual Loved Ones Psychoeducation Group at mortiz@breakfreetherapyservices.com for September 18th, 2025 at 6pm.
About the Authors:
Maria Ortiz is currently a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS). She is also personally recovered from an eating disorder, meaning this work is not only her profession, but her true passion as well. She is persistent in her efforts to provide awareness, education, and therapeutic services regarding all things eating disorders. “The road to recovery can be one of the most challenging processes one may ever face, and I'm so grateful that my story led me to helping others find their hope again. It gets better!” – Maria Ortiz, MS, LMHC, CEDS
Jenesis Vasquez is currently a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and in the process of earning her Certified Eating Disorder Specialist Credential. She strives to provide a safe place for everyone, and her desire and purpose is to provide awareness that reduces stigma surrounding eating disorders and overall therapeutic care. “To create an environment where everyone feels accepted and learns their self-worth is not defined by their body shape and/or size is my goal, and I truly believe recovery is possible for my clients. I will ensure to provide an individualized treatment approach to best fit each unique individual.” – Jenesis Vasquez, MS, LMHC
References:
Chu, J., Ganson, K. T., Testa, A., Al-shoaibi, A. A. A., Jackson, D. B., Rodgers, R. F., He, J., Baker, F. C., & Nagata, J. M. (2024). Screen time, problematic screen use, and eating disorder symptoms among early adolescents: findings from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. Eating and Weight Disorders, 29(1), Article 57. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-024-01685-1
National Institute of Mental Health. (2025, September 4). Eating disorders. National Institutes of Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/eating-disorders