Anorexia in Adolescents

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Ideally, adolescence is about the process of developing a healthy independence from parents, adjusting to the physical changes of puberty, and developing a personal identity. With Anorexia Nervosa, most full-blown symptoms develop after the start of puberty. Puberty can be a trigger to an eating disorder partly due to the increase in fat accumulation that occurs in females during this stage of development. This fat accumulation during puberty has an especially negative effect on girls with a poor body image. There is a consensus that anorexia is strongly related to an individual’s difficulty managing the developmental demands of adolescence. The disease literally stops the adolescent from emotionally and physically progressing in an age appropriate manner.

People with Anorexia are most often inhibited, over controlled, and perfectionists. They usually have difficulty taking risks and developing their independence from their parents. These qualities make meeting the developmental age appropriate tasks of adolescence more difficult to achieve. The regression appears to occur in part because the milestones of adolescence separating from parents, exploring the uncertain) are seen as too overwhelming People with Anorexia are most often inhibited, over controlled, and perfectionists. They usually have difficulty taking risks and developing their independence from their parents. These qualities make meeting the developmental age appropriate tasks of adolescence (seen below) more difficult to achieve. The regression appears to occur in part because the milestones of adolescence separating from parents, exploring the uncertain) are seen as too overwhelming/.

Stages of Adolescent Development

EARLY ADOLESCENCE (ages 10-13)

A sense of immorality
There are changes in physical appearance due to puberty
A preoccupation with body image
Being more concerned with peers than parents
Having a Idealistic view of the world
Wishing for more independence

MIDDLE ADOLESCENCE (ages 14-16)

Preoccupation with body image and improving physical appearance. This comes with an increased risk for possibly unhealthy behaviors (dieting)
Taking risks/ vulnerable to peer pressure
A Struggle for more Independence from parents
Fitting in with “The group” and popularity becomes extremely important

LATE ADOLESCENCE (ages 17+)

Increasing confidence
More willing to seek parental advice
A more Realistic view of the world and of self
A more acceptances over physical changes of Adolescence
Less focus on fitting into the group more focused on individual peer relationships
Less vulnerable to peer pressure

by Jill Cohen, M.S.W., LCSW