According to a recent study, 1 in 5 teenagers will struggle with disordered eating. As a parent, this figure alone is frightening, especially as we’re aware of the long-term dangers of these behaviors, whether they’re restricting their food consumption or facing a food addiction.
Fortunately, there are many steps that you can take as a parent to support them during this time.
Practice body neutrality. While teenagers may claim to be too cool to be influenced by their parents, you’d be surprised by just how much they pick up on. As such, if you’re constantly using negative language to describe your body, they’ll begin to take on similar attitudes.
Avoiding this becomes particularly pertinent if you believe that someone in your family is struggling with their weight. You can combat this by practising body neutrality, which means focusing on your body’s strengths and capabilities instead of its shape or weight.
Create a safe space for conversation. To encourage your teen to open up about what they are going through, you need to create a safe space for conversation. Not only will this help them to express themselves without fear of judgement and repercussion, but it will also provide you with an opportunity to express your concerns. However, during these conversations, you should avoid making direct comments about their appearance.
Look into treatment plans. In some cases, teens who have participated in disordered eating habits may need professional help to get them back on track. For example, they may want to work alongside a nutritionist to improve their relationship with food. Alternatively, they may need to spend some time at an eating disorder treatment facility.
Do your research. Though eating disorders are among the most common mental health struggles, there’s something that the general public does not know much about. This, in turn, can make it harder to show up for someone who is struggling, as you don’t understand the kind of battle they are facing. As such, you can work to support your teen through an eating disorder by carefully researching their symptoms and working to understand how you are feeling.
Encourage them to participate in therapy. Encouraging your teen to attend therapy can also prove useful. After all, their emotions are likely to be incredibly fraught during this time. Furthermore, working alongside a therapist means that they can develop healthier coping mechanisms moving forward, which means that they are far less likely to indulge in restrictive behaviors moving forward.
You may also find therapy to be useful during this time, especially as your concern for your teen or child can cause your own mental health to spiral. By taking good care of yourself during this time and finding a healthy outlet for your emotions, you can ensure that you can show up for your teen as and when they need you. A therapist will also be able to advise you on how to support your teen during this time, taking into account their unique situation.
