When hormonal changes happen during adolescence, apart from changes in the physical body, there are bound to be fluctuations in moods and emotions. When we begin to include academic strain, bullying, peer pressure, negative self-esteem, emotional or physical trauma, and anxiety, it is no wonder that eating disorders are so commonly prevalent in adolescents. Harmful eating disorder behaviors include skipping meals, purging, and binge eating.

The four types of eating disorders that are common in adolescents include the following:

1. Anorexia
Skewed ideas about having to conform to a particular body shape is the primary cause of anorexia in teenagers. Feeling fat or overweight, in spite of being visibly underweight, wanting to go on so-called special diets, denying the feeling of hunger, exercising obsessively, all these are signs of anorexia in young people. Anorexia results in rapid weight loss, thinning of hair, feeling weak, tired and dizzy, and the absence of regular menstrual cycles in girls. Adolescents appear withdrawn, shun the company of family and friends, spend a lot of time alone, and do not show much joy in everyday activities.

2. Bulimia
When adolescents treat themselves to uncontrollable excessive eating and then purge all the food they have eaten, it is a clear sign of Bulimia. After an episode of bingeing, they force themselves to vomit or use laxatives, diuretics or enemas to bring out all the food out of their system. They indulge in extreme fasting or subject themselves to excessive exercise routines. These peculiar habits of adolescents with this type of eating disorder results in puffy, red eyes, sore throat, tooth decay, acid reflux, bloating, diarrhea or constipation, could tear the esophagus or lining of the anus, and damage their kidneys.

3. Binge eating disorders
Quite similar to teenagers with bulimia, those engaging in excessive uncontrolled eating are categorized under this type of eating disorder. However, one significant difference between the two groups is that adolescents who are diagnosed with binge eating disorders are typically overweight or obese. This is because they do not feel the need to purge the food they eat. They simply resort to consuming a lot of food in a short period and also have the habit of stealing or hoarding food. Emotionally, they feel embarrassed and repulsed about this abnormal eating habits and go into depression or experience withdrawal symptoms. This leads them to eat more food, and the cycle continues unabated.

4. Diabulimia
Young people suffering from type-1 diabetes intentionally restrict the amount of insulin needed by their body. This is a method of controlling their body weight. Adolescents with anxiety about their body image resort to such tactics to not put on any weight. Incidence of nausea, vomiting, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, dry skin and hair, irregular menstrual cycles and diabetic ketoacidosis are quite common in youth suffering from diabulimia.