Understanding the Different Types of Teen Eating Disorders
FACT CHECKED
The Nexus Teen Academy editorial and clinical team is dedicated to providing informative and accurate content to help families who are struggling with adolescent behavioral health problems. The editorial team works directly with the clinical team to ensure information is accurate and up-to-date.
To do this, our team uses the following editorial guidelines:
We generally only cite government and peer-reviewed studies
Scientific claims and data are backed by qualified sources
Content is updated to ensure we are citing the most up-to-date data and information
Clinically reviewed by Executive Director Hannah Carr, LPC
Executive Director Hannah Carr, LPC
Hannah graduated from Arizona State University with her Bachelor’s in Psychology and Master’s in Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Arizona. She began her work as a therapist 12 years ago in South Phoenix with an intensive outpatient program for teens and their families. She joined Nexus in the residential program as the clinical director, eventually being promoted to the executive director, creating and building the clinical program structure and a strong culture focused on redirecting the trajectory of young lives.
The Nexus Teen Academy Editorial Staff is composed of writers, editors, and clinical reviewers with many years of experience writing about mental health and behavioral health treatment. Our team utilizes peer-reviewed, clinical studies from sources like SAMHSA to ensure we provide the most accurate and current information.
According to the National Eating Disorders Association, it is estimated that 22% of children and teenagers in the United States have an eating disorder. These conditions also have the second-highest mortality rate of any behavioral health condition. Eating disorders are a high-risk health condition that affects a teen’s relationship with food. As a parent or guardian, it can be heartbreaking to watch your son or daughter struggle with teen eating disorders.
As a parent or guardian, you should educate yourself about the different types of eating disorders. This article will help you with that. It will explore different eating disorders, their symptoms, and their effects. If you need more guidance or immediate help, do not hesitate to contact Nexus Teen Academy. We will be happy to provide further information.
Common Types of Eating Disorders in Teens
Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that affect people’s relationship with food, weight, and appearance. They can cause teens to experience overwhelming and distressing thoughts. Moreover, eating disorders in teen boys differ from eating disorders in teen girls. Some types of more prevalent in girls vs. boys. The following are some common types of eating disorders:
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia is by far one of the most well-known types of eating disorders. It is an eating disorder where teens restrict their food intake because of the fear of gaining weight. Anorexic teens engage in self-starvation or cut out certain food groups to prevent weight gain. They become obsessed with their caloric intake and restrict their food intake. As a result, anorexic teens become nutrient-deficient and have a very low BMI.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any eating disorder. It prevents teens from realizing that their body image is distorted. Anorexic teens lose significant weight over a short period. This type of weight loss is dangerous and can be fatal.
Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa
An intense fear of weight gain or becoming fat
Unrealistic weight standards
Obsessive calorie counting
Becoming overly self-critical
Eliminating certain food groups from one’s diet
Feeling ‘fat’ despite significant weight loss
Abusing appetite suppressants
Obsessively working out to burn calories
Limiting food intake despite its negative effects
Fatigue
Fainting
Dizziness
Wearing baggy clothes to hide weight loss
Social withdrawal
Cardiovascular issues like heart arrhythmia
Being unable to keep warm
Absent periods
Hair loss or thinning
Anorexia is a serious mental health condition that should be addressed immediately. If your teen exhibits a combination of the above symptoms, seek professional help immediately.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa is a mental health condition that makes teens feel out of control when they are eating. It causes them to eat high amounts of food until it becomes painful. Bulimia is cyclic in nature. It causes teens to cycle between dieting and consuming large quantities of high-calorie foods. Since their overconsumption becomes unbearable, they purge the food through vomiting or laxative misuse.
Bulimia is potentially life-threatening. The cyclic pattern of bulimia can cause teens to develop gastrointestinal issues and other mental health conditions. According to NEDA, bulimia nervosa is prevalent in 0.32% of females and 0.05% of males.
Signs and Symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa
Detecting bulimia can be difficult for most parents. The following are the signs and symptoms of bulimia:
Visiting the bathroom immediately after every meal
Excessive exercise
Feeling out of control during a binge-eating episode
Laxative misuse
Self-induced vomiting
Fear of gaining weight
Obsession with body image
Feeling guilty about eating high-calorie foods
Social withdrawal
Constipation
Hair loss or thinning
Acid reflux and other gastrointestinal issues
Swollen cheeks
Scars on the knuckles due to inducing vomiting
Fatigue
Muscle weakness
Binge-Eating Disorder
Teens with binge-eating disorder feel out of control when they eat. They eat large quantities of food in one sitting. If your teen has binge-eating disorder, they may feel embarrassed about how much food they consume. According to NEDA, binge-eating disorder is prevalent in 0.96% and 0.26% of females and males, respectively.
Binge-eating disorder can have a negative effect on your teen’s mental and physical health. It is common for binge eating disorder to co-occur with depression. This condition differs from bulimia nervosa because it does not include purging.
Symptoms of Binge-Eating Disorder
Consuming large quantities of food in a short period
Eating to the point of discomfort
Eating too fast
Not enjoying the food
Eating to alleviate stress
Stashing food to eat in secret
Feeling embarrassed about binge-eating episodes
Obsession with high-calorie foods
Low self-worth
Dramatic weight gain
Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
ARDID is quite similar to anorexia. It causes teens to develop disordered eating habits, including limiting their food intake. The main difference between anorexia and ARFID is the driving force of the condition. While body image issues drive anorexia, ARFID is driven by various issues relating to food. The most common factor is a lack of interest in food. Similarly, teens with ARFID feel anxious about food because of its texture, color, and smell. It can be difficult to detect ARFID in teens because many parents dismiss it as ‘selective eating.’
Since ARFID is a relatively new type of eating disorder, there is little research on its prevalence. However, according to NEDA, the prevalence of ARFID is between 0.5% and 5%.
ARFID affects your teen’s nutrient intake since they may avoid certain foods. Additionally, it can make teens develop rituals around eating. For example, your teen may develop a ritual that affects the order in which they consume different types of food.
Signs and Symptoms of Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake
Loss of body hair
Dramatic or significant loss of weight
Dizziness
Fatigue and lethargy
Confusion
Difficulty concentrating
Lack of appetite
Avoiding certain food groups
Fear of choking
Abdominal pain
Gastrointestinal issues
Low body temperature
Fainting
Dizziness
Lesser-Known Types of Eating Disorders in Teens
Other eating disorders affecting teens include the following:
Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders (OSFED)
This is the most common type of eating disorder. It affects 1.18% and 0.27% of females and males, respectively. It is a complex mental health condition where teens exhibit symptoms that are similar to, but not the same as, those of other eating disorders.
Symptoms of OSFED
Significant fluctuation in body weight
Loss of menstrual periods
Low libido
Dizziness
Fainting
Fatigue
Compromised immunity
Obsession with dieting
Becoming overly sensitive to comments about one’s body
Feeling shame after eating
Limiting food intake
Hoarding food
Purging behavior
Social withdrawal
Rumination Disorder
We have all seen or heard of ruminants. Rumination is a special eating characteristic in herbivores, which brings undigested food back to the mouth for chewing. Some teens develop a rumination disorder where they regurgitate, chew, and swallow food again. This behavior can be persistent. Teens with rumination disorder learn to regurgitate their food after every meal. You might wonder whether the food will taste sour or bitter. The answer to this question is no. Since the food has not been fully mixed with stomach acids, it is not bitter or tart.
Signs and Symptoms of Rumination Disorder
Weight loss
Gastrointestinal issues
Acid reflux due to weakening of the lower esophageal sphincter
Stained teeth
Frequent dental issues
Dry lips
Bad breath
Bloating and indigestion
Orthorexia Nervosa
This type of eating disorder is associated with an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating. It involves cutting out some food groups from one’s diet. Teens with orthorexia worry about the quality of their food. They begin cutting out foods that contain gluten, sugar, and other ‘unhealthy’ food components.
Signs of Orthorexia Nervosa
Constant anxiety about food quality
Significant loss of weight
Worrying about falling sick when you consume ‘bad’ food
Obsessive calorie-counting
Compulsive food research
Cutting out certain food groups from one’s diet
Being self-critical
Warning Signs of Eating Disorders in Teens
While eating disorders are different, they may share several warning signs. Some red flags you can look out for include the following:
Withdrawal from social events
Being obsessed with one’s weight, shape, or physical appearance
Consuming large quantities of food
Limiting food intake
Misusing supplements
Using laxatives to purge food
Injuries around the knuckles due to self-induced vomiting
Excessive exercise
Bad dental hygiene
Focus on healthy eating
Weight fluctuation
Eating in secret
Making comments about being fat even after weight loss
Obsession with herbal remedies for weight loss
Causes and Risk Factors
Several factors cause eating disorders. These factors include the following:
Genetics
Like other mental health conditions, eating disorders can be linked to genetics. Studies have shown that teenagers can inherit genetic traits linked to eating disorders. For example, one study showed that monozygotic twins were more likely to be diagnosed with anorexia than teens from different eggs. Similarly, another study concluded that teenagers were more likely to develop eating disorders if their parents or siblings had an eating disorder. Their risk of developing the condition is ten times higher than teens whose parents did not have an eating disorder.
Underlying Mental Health Conditions
Teens with other mental health conditions like depression and trauma are at an increased likelihood of developing an eating disorder. Teens with depression may use food as a way of managing negative emotions. This makes them reliant on food to regulate their emotions.
Cultural and Societal Pressures
Teens develop eating disorders because of societal and cultural pressure. Some cultures value bigger bodies. As a result, smaller teens may develop eating disorders to reach their ideal body type.
Bullying
Teenagers who have been bullied because of their weight are at an increased risk of developing eating disorders. This is because the bullying impacts their relationship with food. As a result, they develop disordered eating to prevent further trauma.
Dieting
Teens who diet frequently are at an increased risk of developing eating disorders. Frequent starvation affects a teen’s brain chemistry and causes them to develop disordered eating. Due to appetite fluctuations, teenagers who diet will likely limit their food intake. As a result, they lose weight drastically and cannot return to their normal weight.
Behavioral Health Treatment at Nexus Teen Academy
Nexus Teen Academy is a premier mental health treatment facility in Arizona that offers treatment for teens aged 12 to 17. Our residential treatment center provides comprehensive mental health treatment for conditions like teen depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. Our facility is in a serene environment where your teen can focus on overcoming their mental health challenges. At Nexus Teen Academy, we provide a family-centered treatment approach where parents can actively participate in their teen’s treatment.
Nexus Teen Academy uses evidence-based and holistic treatment approaches to ensure positive mental health outcomes. Contact us today for more information about the different types of teen eating disorders and about our programs or treatment services.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the psychological effects of eating disorders in teens?
Eating disorders can have devastating psychological effects. These effects include:
Low self-worth
Loss of confidence
Onset of other mental health conditions
How does social media influence teen eating disorders?
Social media can exasperate teen eating disorders. Social media can influence your teen’s perception of their bodies. To achieve an unrealistic body standard, teens develop eating disorders.
Can boys also develop eating disorders?
Yes, boys also develop eating disorders. Despite the myth that only girls develop eating disorders, studies show that one in three teens with eating disorders is male.
Executive Director Hannah Carr, LPC and nexus_admin
Understanding the Different Types of Teen Eating Disorders
FACT CHECKED
The Nexus Teen Academy editorial and clinical team is dedicated to providing informative and accurate content to help families who are struggling with adolescent behavioral health problems. The editorial team works directly with the clinical team to ensure information is accurate and up-to-date.
To do this, our team uses the following editorial guidelines:
Clinically reviewed by Executive Director Hannah Carr, LPC
Executive Director Hannah Carr, LPC
Hannah graduated from Arizona State University with her Bachelor’s in Psychology and Master’s in Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Arizona. She began her work as a therapist 12 years ago in South Phoenix with an intensive outpatient program for teens and their families. She joined Nexus in the residential program as the clinical director, eventually being promoted to the executive director, creating and building the clinical program structure and a strong culture focused on redirecting the trajectory of young lives.
Published By Nexus Teen Academy
Nexus Teen Academy
The Nexus Teen Academy Editorial Staff is composed of writers, editors, and clinical reviewers with many years of experience writing about mental health and behavioral health treatment. Our team utilizes peer-reviewed, clinical studies from sources like SAMHSA to ensure we provide the most accurate and current information.
Published On March 13, 2025
Table of Contents
According to the National Eating Disorders Association, it is estimated that 22% of children and teenagers in the United States have an eating disorder. These conditions also have the second-highest mortality rate of any behavioral health condition. Eating disorders are a high-risk health condition that affects a teen’s relationship with food. As a parent or guardian, it can be heartbreaking to watch your son or daughter struggle with teen eating disorders.
As a parent or guardian, you should educate yourself about the different types of eating disorders. This article will help you with that. It will explore different eating disorders, their symptoms, and their effects. If you need more guidance or immediate help, do not hesitate to contact Nexus Teen Academy. We will be happy to provide further information.
Common Types of Eating Disorders in Teens
Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that affect people’s relationship with food, weight, and appearance. They can cause teens to experience overwhelming and distressing thoughts. Moreover, eating disorders in teen boys differ from eating disorders in teen girls. Some types of more prevalent in girls vs. boys. The following are some common types of eating disorders:
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia is by far one of the most well-known types of eating disorders. It is an eating disorder where teens restrict their food intake because of the fear of gaining weight. Anorexic teens engage in self-starvation or cut out certain food groups to prevent weight gain. They become obsessed with their caloric intake and restrict their food intake. As a result, anorexic teens become nutrient-deficient and have a very low BMI.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any eating disorder. It prevents teens from realizing that their body image is distorted. Anorexic teens lose significant weight over a short period. This type of weight loss is dangerous and can be fatal.
Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia is a serious mental health condition that should be addressed immediately. If your teen exhibits a combination of the above symptoms, seek professional help immediately.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa is a mental health condition that makes teens feel out of control when they are eating. It causes them to eat high amounts of food until it becomes painful. Bulimia is cyclic in nature. It causes teens to cycle between dieting and consuming large quantities of high-calorie foods. Since their overconsumption becomes unbearable, they purge the food through vomiting or laxative misuse.
Bulimia is potentially life-threatening. The cyclic pattern of bulimia can cause teens to develop gastrointestinal issues and other mental health conditions. According to NEDA, bulimia nervosa is prevalent in 0.32% of females and 0.05% of males.
Signs and Symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa
Detecting bulimia can be difficult for most parents. The following are the signs and symptoms of bulimia:
Binge-Eating Disorder
Teens with binge-eating disorder feel out of control when they eat. They eat large quantities of food in one sitting. If your teen has binge-eating disorder, they may feel embarrassed about how much food they consume. According to NEDA, binge-eating disorder is prevalent in 0.96% and 0.26% of females and males, respectively.
Binge-eating disorder can have a negative effect on your teen’s mental and physical health. It is common for binge eating disorder to co-occur with depression. This condition differs from bulimia nervosa because it does not include purging.
Symptoms of Binge-Eating Disorder
Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
ARDID is quite similar to anorexia. It causes teens to develop disordered eating habits, including limiting their food intake. The main difference between anorexia and ARFID is the driving force of the condition. While body image issues drive anorexia, ARFID is driven by various issues relating to food. The most common factor is a lack of interest in food. Similarly, teens with ARFID feel anxious about food because of its texture, color, and smell. It can be difficult to detect ARFID in teens because many parents dismiss it as ‘selective eating.’
Since ARFID is a relatively new type of eating disorder, there is little research on its prevalence. However, according to NEDA, the prevalence of ARFID is between 0.5% and 5%.
ARFID affects your teen’s nutrient intake since they may avoid certain foods. Additionally, it can make teens develop rituals around eating. For example, your teen may develop a ritual that affects the order in which they consume different types of food.
Signs and Symptoms of Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake
Lesser-Known Types of Eating Disorders in Teens
Other eating disorders affecting teens include the following:
Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders (OSFED)
This is the most common type of eating disorder. It affects 1.18% and 0.27% of females and males, respectively. It is a complex mental health condition where teens exhibit symptoms that are similar to, but not the same as, those of other eating disorders.
Symptoms of OSFED
Rumination Disorder
We have all seen or heard of ruminants. Rumination is a special eating characteristic in herbivores, which brings undigested food back to the mouth for chewing. Some teens develop a rumination disorder where they regurgitate, chew, and swallow food again. This behavior can be persistent. Teens with rumination disorder learn to regurgitate their food after every meal. You might wonder whether the food will taste sour or bitter. The answer to this question is no. Since the food has not been fully mixed with stomach acids, it is not bitter or tart.
Signs and Symptoms of Rumination Disorder
Orthorexia Nervosa
This type of eating disorder is associated with an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating. It involves cutting out some food groups from one’s diet. Teens with orthorexia worry about the quality of their food. They begin cutting out foods that contain gluten, sugar, and other ‘unhealthy’ food components.
Signs of Orthorexia Nervosa
Warning Signs of Eating Disorders in Teens
While eating disorders are different, they may share several warning signs. Some red flags you can look out for include the following:
Causes and Risk Factors
Several factors cause eating disorders. These factors include the following:
Genetics
Like other mental health conditions, eating disorders can be linked to genetics. Studies have shown that teenagers can inherit genetic traits linked to eating disorders. For example, one study showed that monozygotic twins were more likely to be diagnosed with anorexia than teens from different eggs. Similarly, another study concluded that teenagers were more likely to develop eating disorders if their parents or siblings had an eating disorder. Their risk of developing the condition is ten times higher than teens whose parents did not have an eating disorder.
Underlying Mental Health Conditions
Teens with other mental health conditions like depression and trauma are at an increased likelihood of developing an eating disorder. Teens with depression may use food as a way of managing negative emotions. This makes them reliant on food to regulate their emotions.
Cultural and Societal Pressures
Teens develop eating disorders because of societal and cultural pressure. Some cultures value bigger bodies. As a result, smaller teens may develop eating disorders to reach their ideal body type.
Bullying
Teenagers who have been bullied because of their weight are at an increased risk of developing eating disorders. This is because the bullying impacts their relationship with food. As a result, they develop disordered eating to prevent further trauma.
Dieting
Teens who diet frequently are at an increased risk of developing eating disorders. Frequent starvation affects a teen’s brain chemistry and causes them to develop disordered eating. Due to appetite fluctuations, teenagers who diet will likely limit their food intake. As a result, they lose weight drastically and cannot return to their normal weight.
Behavioral Health Treatment at Nexus Teen Academy
Nexus Teen Academy is a premier mental health treatment facility in Arizona that offers treatment for teens aged 12 to 17. Our residential treatment center provides comprehensive mental health treatment for conditions like teen depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. Our facility is in a serene environment where your teen can focus on overcoming their mental health challenges. At Nexus Teen Academy, we provide a family-centered treatment approach where parents can actively participate in their teen’s treatment.
Nexus Teen Academy uses evidence-based and holistic treatment approaches to ensure positive mental health outcomes. Contact us today for more information about the different types of teen eating disorders and about our programs or treatment services.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Eating disorders can have devastating psychological effects. These effects include:
Social media can exasperate teen eating disorders. Social media can influence your teen’s perception of their bodies. To achieve an unrealistic body standard, teens develop eating disorders.
Yes, boys also develop eating disorders. Despite the myth that only girls develop eating disorders, studies show that one in three teens with eating disorders is male.