Disordered eating “I think Youth MHFAiders should look out for changes like mood swings, habits changing, loss of motivation, as well as increased anxiety. You can often assume that everyone shows stress in the same way, but it presents differently in different young people.” Scarlett, 14 years old Disordered eating is when the control of food is used to cope with feelings and other situations. It is complex and can be life- threatening (200). Disordered eating may include eating too much or too little, or worrying about weight and body shape. These behaviours impact physical health and a young person’s psychological and social functioning. Some young people with disordered eating behaviours lose weight, sometimes to the point of starvation. The attempts of other young people with disordered eating behaviours to lose weight are undermined by periods of uncontrolled overeating. The result of this is that their normal weight is maintained (201). Additionally, other young people can experience binge eating without any purging behaviours and go through drastic weight gain. Long-term physical risks for young people with disordered eating include: – Slowing of growth and delay of puberty – Loss of tooth enamel from vomiting (202) – Brain changes that can lead to cognitive issues – Loss of bone density – Complications from being overweight and obese, including diabetes (203)
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