Eating Disorder Programs

Is your teen struggling with issues associated with Eating Disorders? We have information regarding Eating Disorder Treatment Programs that can help. Complete the form on the right.

Only specialized residential treatment centers effectively work with teens who struggle with eating disorders. You should be advised that there are treatment programs that will "offer" to help your teen with an eating disorder, but which have no specialized services to meet the needs of your teen. It is important that you find a program which not only specializes in the issues associated with eating disorders, but also focuses upon the additional issues faced by teens. For instance, many teens struggle with problems that may or may not be directly associated with their eating disorders, but which need to be addressed as part of the treatment process. Does your teen exhibit any of the following behaviors?

Symptoms of Eating Disorders (Anorexia and/or Bulimia Nervosa):

• Excessive Weight Loss
• Weight Loss Through Self-Starvation
• Weight Loss Through Purging (Vomiting)
• Excessive Exercising
• Refusal to Maintain Normal Weight
• Intense Fear of Weight Gain
• Obsessive Preoccupation with Weight and Shape
• Loss of Menstrual Periods
• Distorted Body Image
• Cycles of Binge Eating Followed by Purging (Secretive)
• Weight ranges from below to above average (may be difficult to detect)
• Feels Out of Control with Regard to Food Intake
• Purges after Binge Eating via Self-Induced Vomiting
• Excessive Use of laxatives
• Excessive Use of Diet Pills
• Excessive use of Diuretics

Does Your Teenager Struggle With the Following Symptoms?

• Family Conflict, Argumentative, Abusive Behavior
• Blatant Disregard for Rules
• Can't Accept "No" For an Answer
• Abrupt Change in Personality
• Never at Fault - Shifts Blame to Others
• Uncontrollable Anger - Poor Emotional Control
• Can't Accept Feedback - "Above the Law"
• Manipulative - Pits Parents Against Each Other
• Lying - Stealing - Sneaky Behaviors
• Lack of Motivation - Lazy - Resists Tasks
• "I hate you," attitude
• "You can't make me," attitude
• Substance Abuse - Alcohol or Drugs
• Skips School - Truancy
• School Suspensions - Authority Problems
• Grades Have Fallen - Academic Problems
• Can't Keep Friends - Peer Problems

Have there been symptoms, or a diagnosis of any other disorder or problem?

• Danger to Self or Others
• Runs Away or AWOL
• Conduct Disorder - Diagnosed or Observed?
• Poor Choice of Friends - Easily Misled
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
• Bipolar Disorder - Diagnosed or Observed?
• Low Self-Esteem or Poor Self-Image
• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
• Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)
• Depression - Diagnosed or Observed?
• Attempted or Threats of Suicide (Ideation)
• Drug Abuse or Addiction
• Alcohol Abuse or Addiction
• Smoking or other Tobacco Use
• Sexually Active - Risky Behavior
• Cutting - Self-Harm or Mutilation
• Adoption Issues - Associated with RAD
• Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)
• Learning Disabilities - Diagnosed?

"Parent and Teen Resources" provides you with as much information as possible to help with Eating Disorder Treatment Programs and parenting help for eating disorders.

We are committed to providing you relevant information to serve your needs as a parent or guardian of a teen struggling with eating disorders. Check back often, and thouroughly research this site as we continually add and alter the resources provided.

Dangers of Eating Disorders - Anorexia Nervosa

Many people are suffering from eating disorders these days. The most common eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa (anorexia) and Bulimia Nervosa (bulimia). Both are very dangerous eating disorders that may even cause death. Eating disorders usually occur on the background of emotional instability, confusion, loneliness, depression and low-self esteem.

Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by unusual behaviors related to food consumption, the refuse of keeping a body weight appropriate to one’s physical build, age and sex, the development of obsessions regarding food and weight and a false perception of one’s body image. People with Anorexia Nervosa are always preoccupied with their physical appearance, carefully weighing their meals and counting the calories they consume. Although people with Anorexia Nervosa sustain constant efforts to lose weight by following drastic diets and exercising excessively, they are never pleased with their accomplishments, always aiming to lose even more weight. Persons with Anorexia Nervosa, despite being underweight, may actually see themselves as fat.

There are two kinds of Anorexia Nervosa: the restrictive and the compulsive kind. People who suffer from Restrictive Anorexia Nervosa usually have a very low body weight. They indulge in acts of self-starvation and also tend to burn the little food they eat through physical exercise, in order to lose weight. Compulsive Anorexia Nervosa, also referred to as Binge and Purge Anorexia, resembles the symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa. Bulimia is characterized by the consumption of large amounts of food and then getting rid of it by purging it from the system. Just like in the case of Bulimia Nervosa, Compulsive Anorexia Nervosa implies and alternation in eating habits, people suffering from it fluctuating between periods of scarce eating or abstinence from food and periods of binge-eating and purging.

The persons with this kind of Anorexia Nervosa purge the food out of their bodies by vomiting or by taking laxatives and diuretics. They also tire themselves through long, sustained physical exercise in order to lose weight. Unlike people with Restrictive Anorexia Nervosa, the ones confronted with the second type of disorder aren’t always underweight. People with Binge and Purge Anorexia experience a lot of changes in their body weight. They resemble bulimics in physical appearance and behavior.

Actually, Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa have a lot of things in common and in fact, people who suffer from Anorexia Nervosa may later become bulimics.

Anorexia Nervosa, just like other eating disorders causes a lot of harm to people affected by it. A very disturbing fact is that young people, especially adolescents are the most exposed to the development of eating disorders. Both sexes are susceptible to the threat of Anorexia Nervosa, but particularly girls and young women develop forms of Anorexia Nervosa, due to their constant preoccupation with looks.

The causes of eating disorders haven’t yet been determined. It is considered that Anorexia Nervosa is purely a mental condition. However, studies sustain that there are also physical factors involved in the development of the illness. Also, a disturbing fact reveals the hereditary character of eating disorders like Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa.

Author: Groshan Fabiola

(For additional articles relating to Eating Disorder Treatment Programs, see: Anorexia Treatment Centers, Anorexia Treatment Facilities, Anorexia Treatment Options, Bulimia Treatment Centers, Eating Disorder Treatment Centers, Eating Disorder Treatment Facilities, and Eating Disorders Help)

You have made the right choice in seeking help for your teen's eating disorder. The next step is to contact us. We have vast experience in the treatment care industry. We have worked in the industry. We have lived in the industry. We have seen what works ...... and what doesn't.

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