Speaking of Teens
Episode #37: Teenagers and Eating Disorders; What Are Parents To Do?
For many people food is a non-issue. They eat regular meals, snack when they feel the need, indulge now and then but don’t beat themselves up about it. But some people develop a strange relationship with food – often one that started in adolescence. It may start innocently enough – a fad diet, a decision to go “gluten free” or become a vegan. But, as we learn in our discussion with Dr. Marcia Herrin in today’s episode, for kids with a genetic predisposition for eating disorders, it doesn’t take much to set the wheels in motion. She gives us advice on what we can do to help keep an eating disorder from “taking hold” of our teens and tweens and what to do if despite those efforts, we find our child in the grips of a disorder.
Dr. Marcia Herrin is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with a Masters of Public Health from UC Berkeley and a Doctorate of Nutrition Education from Columbia University. She’s a Fellow of the Academy of Eating Disorders, having been bestowed the honor for significant contributions in the field of eating disorders. Dr. Herrin is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, teaching future pediatricians about eating disorders and is the founder of Dartmouth College’s nationally renowned eating disorder treatment program for college students. She also runs a private practice in New Hampshire for the treatment of eating disorders in adolescents and adults. She’s also the author of The Parent’s Guide to Eating Disorders and Nutrition Counseling in the Treatment of Eating Disorders.
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Access transcript here.
Additional Resources:
United States:
Insurance issues in the US - https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/toolkit/parent-toolkit/understanding-insurance
NEDA (National Eating Disorder Association)
You can call or text their helpline (with translation services) at 800-931-2237 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.
Online chat available here with the same hours except they close at 5 p.m. on Friday.
If you’re in crisis and need immediate help, text NEDA to 741741 and you will be connected with the Crisis Text Line 24/7.
They do close for specific holidays listed here.
ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)
Eating Disorders Helpline at 888-375-7767 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. CST. They do close for specific holidays listed here.
Australia:
National Eating Disorders Collaboration provides a long list of eating disorders resources and additional mental health resources.
Additionally, the Butterfly Foundation runs a call center at 800-33-4673 and online chat from 8 a.m. to midnight AEST/AEDT every day except public holidays. They also have support groups, programs, and consultations.
UK:
You can find helplines for England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland 365 days a year from 9 a.m. to midnight during the week and from 4 p.m. to midnight on the weekends.
You might be interested in one or more of the following FREE GUIDES:
“10 Keys to Unlock Your Teen’s Emotional Intelligence”
“The Challenging Adolescent Brain” (e-book)
“Emotional Awareness Strategies” (for parents)
“Why Doesn’t My Teen Sleep?” (e-book)
“Communication for Teen Cooperation”