How to Reconnect with Your Teen Who’s Struggling with Disordered Eating and Body Dissatisfaction

Are you concerned that your teen may be at risk for an eating disorder? Does any of this sound like your child?

• • Preoccupied with weight, food, calories, and dieting

• • Disappearance of large amounts of food in a short amount of time

• • Skipping meals or uncomfortable eating around others

• • Frequently going to the bathroom immediately after meals

• • Evidence of laxative or diet pill use

• • Refusal to eat certain foods or food groups

• • Irritable when something interferes with their ability to exercise

Your teen may be struggling with an eating disorder. And you may feel overwhelmed and uncertain about how to help them. You and your teen are not alone. 13% of adolescents will develop an eating disorder by the age of 20.

Eating disorders have the second highest mortality

• For additional support, check out the Quick Video Solutions Library for Teens, Support, Inspire, and Connect. Explore the Video Solutions and Handouts for all the classes including Building an Extraordinary Relationship with your Teen through Everyday Conversations, Talking to Teens: Communication for Connection.

After this class, you will be able to:

• Recognize and understand the signs and symptoms of eating disorders.
• Identify strategies to promote a healthy relationship with food and body image in your family.
• Apply effective approaches for connecting positively with your teen.
• Apply strategies for working through concerning eating or exercise behavior.
• Consider your own challenges and apply healthy personal self-care skills .