Eating Disorders Specialist

What types of eating disorders do children and teens develop?

The three most common eating disorders — anorexia, bulimia, and binge disorder — are associated with issues such as a negative body image, low self-esteem, and fear of being overweight. A less common eating problem, avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, is not typically related to body image or weight issues.

Anorexia nervosa

Patients with anorexia perceive their bodies as significantly overweight, even if they’re underweight. They have a strong fear of gaining weight, so they purposefully restrict their food intake, purge, or use laxatives.

Bulimia

Bulimia refers to cycles of binging followed by behaviors to offset the extreme overeating and prevent weight gain. These compensatory behaviors may include induced vomiting, use of laxatives or diuretics, fasting, or over-exercising.

Binge eating

Binge eating is defined as recurrent episodes of eating excessive quantities of food, yet not trying to compensate for overeating. Patients with binge eating disorder often go through noticeable fluctuations in their weight.

Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)

ARFID occurs when your child or teen severely limits or stops eating, reducing their caloric intake so severely that they stop growing and develop nutritional deficiencies.

What health complications develop due to eating disorders?

When children or teens don’t get enough calories, they’re underweight, or they purge, they’re at risk for numerous health problems such as:

• Nutritional deficiencies
• Osteoporosis
• Anemia
• Slow pulse
• Hormone imbalances
• Electrolyte imbalances
• Dehydration
• Fluctuations in blood pressure
• Irregular heartbeat
  
  

Ultimately, the metabolic changes that occur due to eating disorders can lead to heart failure.

How do pediatricians treat eating disorders?

The team at Cool Kidz Pediatrics performs a thorough exam and order diagnostic tests to rule out other conditions that may affect your child’s eating habits. 

They routinely run a test for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a bacterium that commonly infects children, but seldom causes symptoms. When H. pylori does cause symptoms, however, they mimic ARFID and cause the same gastrointestinal symptoms associated with all types of eating disorders. 

If the team at Cool Kidz Pediatrics diagnoses an underlying health problem, they start the appropriate treatment.

If your child is diagnosed with an eating disorder, their treatment includes a combination of nutritional counseling, medical care for their overall health and underlying conditions, and psychological counseling to help them understand the social, behavioral, emotional, and interpersonal factors that trigger their eating disorder. 

If you suspect your child has an eating disorder, call Cool Kidz Pediatrics, or schedule an appointment online.