Eating
Disorders
Eating Disorders Aren't Always
Obvious to Parents
by Kim Fowler, MSW, CISW, Program Director,
Remuda Ranch Programs for Anorexia and Bulimia
Anorexia and
bulimia may be
difficult to detect in adolescents due to two factors: personality
characteristics common to girls who get these disorders and the
secrecy and dishonesty intrinsic to eating disorders.
Adolescents with eating
disorders often see themselves and behave as "good girls." They
are often high achievers, straight "A" students, engaged in school
activities and sports, popular with peers. They often find personal identity
through achievement and performance. They are often behaviorally compliant -
they get along well with their parents and rarely cause problems. Because
adolescents with anorexia tend to "stuff" and internalize emotions,
they often don't verbalize feelings. Those with bulimia rid themselves of
emotions through purging. Either way, girls with eating disorders do not
express their feelings, especially the so-called negative feelings such as
anger and shame. The wearing of a "positive mask" is common.
Therefore, at least in the initial stages of an eating disorder, everything
looks so good. It's no wonder parents can't recognize what may be occurring
behind their child's façade.
Though anorexia and bulimia manifest somewhat differently, one key component
of both disorders is secrecy and dishonesty. For those with anorexia,
dissembling centers on food consumption. Girls claim, "I don't want dinner
because I ate a huge lunch," or "I ate at my friend's
house"-when neither statement is true. These girls also become
sophisticated at making it appear as if they've eaten by cutting up their food
into small pieces or pushing it around on their plates. They are also adept at
getting rid of food during meals, by offering it to family pets or secreting it
away in a napkin. Girls also hide the
physical
ramifications of their eating disorder. As adolescents with anorexia become
progressively thinner, they wear baggier clothes with longer sleeves in order
to disguise a dwindling body.
Those with bulimia consume huge quantities of food followed by activities
intended to purge the caloric intake. Therefore, secrecy centers on the
binge/purge cycle. Often, girls with bulimia binge and purge at night while the
family sleeps. A great deal of deception is also involved with the food itself.
If family food is ingested during a binge, the loss will be noticed. Patients
may steal money from other family members to replace the food consumed from the
home, or may shoplift the food. These behaviors-extreme food consumption,
purging, and stealing-cause tremendous shame and guilt, which intensifies the
need to maintain the deception.
One area of shared secrecy for both disorders is exercise, which is often
compulsive. Not only do girls with anorexia and bulimia lie about how much they
exercise, but they frequently exercise in secret, usually at night so no one
will know.
Clearly, certain aspects of anorexia and bulimia contribute to the
difficulty in detecting these illnesses. Yet one factor that parents can
control is their personal time and attention.
Sometimes parents get involved in their own lives, and because everything
seems alright with their daughter, they may simply fail to notice changes in
their daughter's physical appearance or behavior. Just because everything seems
alright does not mean that everything is alright. It is a good idea for parents
to educate themselves about the warning signs of eating disorders and to
observe their child's behavior fairly regularly as a precaution. This is
especially important for adolescents going through life transitions-starting a
new school, moving to a new neighborhood, adjusting to a divorce or loss,
beginning puberty. Life transitions are critical times of risk during which
adolescents often develop eating disorders. But eating disorders may arise at
any time and affect as much as 1 in 10 adolescent girls. Ongoing
attentiveness-and early intervention in the event of warning signs-are the best
course of action.
Professionals specializing in eating disorders can be located by
contacting
Remuda Ranch Programs for Anorexia and Bulimia at
1-800-445-1900.
This article is part of a continuing series of monthly columns. To be
notified of updates, please sign up for the
HealthyPlace.com Eating Disorders Community Newsletter.
Other column's include:
Concerned about whether you might have eating
disordered behaviors?
Take the Eating
Attitudes Test.
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