In an effort to better understand the prevalence and correlating data of adolescent eating disorders, a study was conducted with face-to-face interviews of more than 10,000 teens, ages 13 to 18 years. The study, published online this week in the Archives of General Psychiatry, is touted to be the largest and most comprehensive study of its kind and reveals that more than 500,000 teens have had a serious eating disorder.
Binge-eating disorder presented the highest prevalence, followed by bulimia and anorexia, reports the AP.
While some of the adolescents with these eating disorders had treatment for related issues, few of them had treatment specifically for their eating disorder.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the study also determined that the teens with eating disorders also frequently suffered other mental health issues too. Role impairment and risk of suicide were also issues associated with those adolescents experiencing eating disorder.
Parents, grandparents and other family members play an important role in recognizing the signs and symptoms of an eating disorder. Like many mental health issues, eating disorders are often misunderstood by the general public.
Well-meaning parents and guardians may view the eating disorders as teen rebellion or stubbornness.
But eating disorders go much deeper than breaking curfew or being tardy to school. As the study indicates, the eating disorders may be a signal to another underlying mental health issue. Eating disorders are diseases. The teen can't be merely cajoled, enticed or ordered to change their eating habits.
In any case, neither eating disorders or other mental health issues should be taken lightly. Treatment by a qualified mental health professional is warranted to avert the possible physical and psychological damage to which eating disorders can lead.
The National Institute of Mental Health explains that eating disorders have complex biological, behavioral and social underlying factors that are not yet fully understood by medical science. But they are treatable disorders with behavioral and sometimes medicinal treatments. Treatment plans are developed based on the specific needs of the individual teen.
Story link:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20110310...ders_have_other_mental_health_ills_study_says
