Eating disorders on rise since COVID

Q: I am afraid my 15-yearold daughter is developing an eating disorder. What are the signs?

A: Disordered eating can result from stress, poor nutritional habits, food fads and fad diets.

It can contribute to obesity, nutritional deficiencies and emotional upset, requiring therapy.

Then, there are two more serious and specific psychiatric eating disorders, anorexia nervosa and bulimia.

During COVID-19, we have seen an increase in these conditions among young (usually) girls.

One hospital in Australia reports admissions of children with anorexia nervosa for nutritional rehabilitation jumped 104% compared with the three previous years.

If you see disordered eating, help your child find a support group of like-minded kids with whom to share interests and concerns, encourage joining a sports team or a gym, and create an at-home environment where you have meals together.

Offering the option of talk therapy is also effective — and kind. The past two years have disrupted school routines, interfered with social activities, caused fear of the unknown, and, in many cases, put the whole family in high-stress situations. You should acknowledge these pressures and talk about them.

Signs of anorexia nervosa and bulimia are more extreme. They include preoccupation with food and a distortion of body image.

There is a need for a sense of control over life and saying “no” to food provides that. She — or he — will believe she is fat no matter how thin she becomes.

The symptoms of bulimia are usually different. With bulimia, a teen may binge on high-calorie foods and/or purge by vomiting, engaging in extreme exercise, and/or using laxatives.

Signs of purging are spending a long time in the bathroom and running water to cover sounds.

For information and advice on treating these conditions, call the National Eating Disorders Association at 800-931-2237. Don’t put off reaching out to your daughter and finding help if needed.