Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents

Eating disorders rarely have a single cause. They tend to develop through a combination of:

• Genetic factors, such as a family history of eating disorders or other mental health conditions
• Psychological traits like perfectionism, high sensitivity or trouble managing stress
• Social and cultural pressure, including early exposure to dieting or unrealistic body standards in the media
• Environmental stressors like trauma, major life changes or intense expectations
• Co-occurring mental health conditions like anxiety, OCD, ADHD or PTSD

Understanding these factors and learning what to look for can help families and providers intervene before symptoms become more serious.

Eating disorders don’t always look the way people expect — especially in kids and teens. They can affect children of any age, body size or background and often begin with emotional or behavioral shifts before physical signs appear. For example:

• Skipping meals or eating very little
• Fear of choking, vomiting or allergies
• Sudden focus on dieting or “clean” eating
• Cutting out whole food groups
• Hiding food, wrappers or binge eating
• Purging through vomiting, exercise or laxatives
• Always using the bathroom after meals
• Frequent stomachaches or feeling overly full
• Pulling away from friends or family
• Loss of interest in school, sports or routines

Young children may not have the words to describe what they’re feeling — but changes in eating can still be a sign something is wrong. Some children show signs of well-known eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia.  

Others avoid eating for different reasons — like fear of choking or vomiting, extreme pickiness or how food feels or tastes. This can be a sign of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), which can start early and is often unrelated to body image.  

Eating disorders can impact nearly every part of a child’s health, especially when symptoms are intense or go on for too long. In kids and teens, physical and mental effects often appear together. These may include: 

• Malnutrition and weight loss that interfere with growth and puberty 

• Stomach pain and food avoidance tied to fear of choking, vomiting or allergies 

• Obsessive thoughts about food, strong fears around eating or body changes 

• Difficulty focusing, emotional numbness or rigid thinking 

• Paranoia, delusions or a sense of being stuck, especially with severe anorexia 

These effects are serious but treatable. With early intervention and full nutrition, the brain and body can begin to heal — making other parts of treatment more effective. 

Every child can start with a free, full assessment at treatment centers like Eating Recovery Center and more to determine the right level of care. From there, eating disorder treatment is personalized to restore stability, address symptoms and build the skills needed for long-term recovery. 

• Individual therapy: Regular sessions with a primary therapist help kids process emotions and challenge eating disorder thoughts and behaviors. 

• Group support: Peer groups offer validation, new skills and space to connect with others who understand them. 

• Nutrition and meal support: Children rebuild eating patterns with structured meals and education. 

• Family involvement: Parents are active participants in mealtimes, learning skills and building confidence to continue supporting recovery at home. 

Family-based treatment (FBT) plays a key role in helping families guide children through care. Research shows children have better outcomes when caregivers are actively involved. 

Eating Recovery Center (ERC) and the Eating Disorder Foundation offer expert support for children and adolescents with all eating disorders. ERC’s programs are personalized to meet each child’s needs with medical, nutritional and therapeutic care to support lasting recovery. Every part of treatment is designed to help young people heal and give families the tools and education to help them every step of the way.