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Adolescent Nutrition and Eating Disorders

Chapter 1  Eating Disorders During Adolescence

Chapter 2  Anorexia Nervosa In Adolescence

Chapter 3 Onset of Anorexia Nervosa during Adolescence

Chapter 4  Initial Stage of Anorexia Nervosa in Adolescence

Chapter 5  Crisis Stage Anorexia Nervosa in Adolescence

Chapter 6  Long-Term Recovery Stage Anorexia Nervosa in Adolescence

Chapter 7 Bulimia Nervosa in Adolescence

Nutritional Care Summarized - Table

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Biographical Information

Eating Disorders during Adolescence:  Nutritional Problems and Interventions

Jane Mitchell Rees, PhD, RD, CD
Departments of Health Services and Pediatrics 
Maternal Child Health and Adolescent Medicine 
University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195


Eating Disorders
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Chapter 3  Onset of Anorexia Nervosa during Adolescence

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The physical manifestation of anorexia nervosa may be sudden, although unrecognized underlying characteristics may have been present prior to manifestation of an identifiable disorder.  Intervention strategies should simultaneously address the psychological and physical issues of the adolescent.
 

Onset: Progressive development 

From the family's point of view, the teenager with anorexia nervosa has traditionally been a "model child".  She fits into the family and meets her parents' high expectations, working extremely hard at school and being satisfied only with excellent grades.  Suddenly she displays a compulsive attitude about her weight and food consumption.  The family erupts in crisis as response to her extreme eating behavior.

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Onset: Psychological characteristics 

The teenager with anorexia nervosa is troubled about her life. She finds it difficult to  mature psycho-socially and clings to the rigid patterns of childhood. She is unable to sustain peer friendships and isolates herself.  Life appears to be out of her control. She is conflicted about living as her parents direct, is hurt by their critical comments and begins to realize that she must assert herself but finds that difficult. She feels too fat and thinks she has to be slim to be a worthy person. She takes an uncompromising stand about her eating and exercise habits.  Increasingly preoccupied and angry when her family interferes, she denies her illness.

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Onset: Distorted perceptions 

A range of distorted perceptions has been noted, often related to body size and shape, hunger, satiety, physical endurance and the need for rest.  Distorted perceptions characteristic of anorexia nervosa may be exacerbated during episodes of crisis level starvation and will vary from time to time as well as adolescent to adolescent.  Anorexia nervosa should not be ruled out on the basis of lack of specific distortions if other symptoms are present.

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Onset: Motivation 

The adolescent with anorexia nervosa has been described as wishing to stave off adulthood.  The question is whether she tries to avoid maturation or whether maturation eludes her.

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Onset: Family characteristics

Many families of adolescents with anorexia nervosa list no problems until the manifestation of the disorder.  They need assistance from family specialists on the health care team to deal with the unexpected crisis of an eating disorder.  As treatment progresses they require guidance while developing a family system to support their adolescent as she learns to regain her health.

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Disclaimer 

This Web Site is a reference for health care professionals, students and educators; it is not intended to provide advice or treatment to people with eating disorders.  If you have an eating disorder or disturbed eating patterns, consult a qualified physician who specializes in eating disorders.

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