Specialists in the treatment of eating disorders in adolescents
Eating Disorders (EA) are psychological disorders that cause alterations in eating behavior. People with this pathology may be concerned about weight, body image and diet. These diseases generate serious physical, social and psychological consequences and in extreme cases, cause death.
In our Desconect@ day hospitals in Barcelona and Madrid, we have a multidisciplinary team to be able to work on the genetic, biological, personality, family and sociocultural factors that are affected in the lives of these patients.
What are the symptoms of an ED?
Early detection of an eating disorder can prevent further damage both emotionally and physically. Although the detection of this type of disorder is not easy, it is very important to pay attention to possible warning signs:
- Behaviors and attitudes that indicate that losing weight and control of nutrition are becoming the person's greatest concern.
- Exaggerated variations in weight, without organic explanation.
- Skipping meals with all kinds of excuses.
- Go to the bathroom right after eating. Hide vomiting or justify it.
- Repeated complaints and/or great concern about their physical appearance.
- Disappearance of large amounts of food, often "forbidden foods" because they are high in calories.
- "Manías" with food. Cut it or break it into very small pieces, stir it on the plate, chew a lot, changes in the speed of eating.
- Learn about the composition of food and its energy value (count calories).
- Increase in sports practice, which is generally done alone and urgently.
- Take advantage of any opportunity to walk or avoid taking elevators.
- emotional instability
- Show a sudden interest in cooking and recipes. Prepare elaborate dishes (with the possibility that they will not even try them).
- Loss of notion of time (evasion)
- Hide or store food.
- Protests about constipation and the use of laxatives, diuretics and/or slimming pills.
- Start diets. Change eating habits, increasing the intake of vegetables and fruits and reducing or eliminating the intake of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
- Chewing gum continuously or increasing the consumption of diet drinks, coffee or tea, usually with the goal of hiding the feeling of appetite.
- Amenorrhea (loss of menstruation).
Types of Eating Disorders (ED)
Anorexia Nervosa (A/N)
It is characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight, an obsession with food, and an altered perception of one’s own body. In the case of women, due to significantly low weight, amenorrhea (loss of menstruation) may appear. There is a desire to continue losing weight, even being below the healthy weight for height, and they carry out procedures to achieve it (restrictive diet, hyperactivity, purging behaviors – in the case of purging AN).
Bulimia Nervosa (BN)
Bulimia nervosa is characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating (insatiable and uncontrolled eating) compensated by vomiting and by great emotional instability. They feel a sense of lack of control over what they eat during the binge episode.
They show excessive concern for weight and body. Changes in weight do not necessarily occur.
Binge eating disorder (BED)
In binge eating disorder there are recurrent episodes of binge eating, but unlike bulimia, there are no associated compensatory behaviors. It ends up leading to overweight or obesity problems.
Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDBND)
It is an eating disorder that does not meet the criteria to diagnose a specific eating disorder (AN, BN and TA). They are currently the most common eating disorders. Symptoms similar to AN, BN or TA appear but in an incomplete form, although less severe.
Frequently asked questions about the ED
Eating Disorders (EDs) form a group of mental disorders characterized by an altered behavior of food intake and/or the appearance of inappropriate behaviors aimed at controlling weight. These are serious mental illnesses, with physical and psychological effects that endanger the health of the people who suffer from them. Several clinical categories are distinguished: anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED) and eating behavior disorders not otherwise specified (EDB).
The etiology of eating disorders is multiple and poorly understood. Even so, some predisposing and triggering factors have been identified that are notably associated with the appearance of these eating disorders.
- Low self-esteem.
- A perfectionist personality style, excessively rigid thinking (inflexibility to make changes)
- Pressure from peers, family, the media, fashion or the diet industry, such as following a diet without monitoring by a health professional.
- Sociocultural factors (family models, family history of mental health, atypical eating behaviors in the family).
On the other hand, there are situations that are overwhelming, stressful or that involve complexity for the person that are also associated with the appearance of eating disorders (sexual and/or physical abuse, physical criticism, life crises).
TCAs are complex and have a multifactorial origin.
The family is directly affected by this pathology and it is essential that they receive support to avoid harmful behaviors that can sustain and/or worsen the disorder.
Without being “the cause” that has generated the disorder, each family can make mistakes without pretense and these are not a choice. Every mother and every father gives the best of themselves to the best of their ability. It is essential that the family feels that they are not to blame for the problem, but that they are aware that their role is essential in the treatment of an eating disorder, insofar as their attitude towards the problem can facilitate or complicate the progress that the patient is making. effecting.
The therapeutic team is the one that assesses whether it is possible to continue with their studies, and it will depend on the severity of the patient’s symptoms. The objective is for the patient to continue with their daily activities as normally as possible, which is why, if the studies have had to be interrupted, reincorporation will be attempted as soon as possible. We always work in collaboration with the institute/school to make the academic evaluation possible.
The duration of the treatment of an ED depends on the time of evolution of the disease and the physical and psychological deterioration that the patient presents at the beginning of the treatment. It will also depend on the family support that the adolescent has.
These are very complex pathologies, so the treatments are not short. In this aspect, the patient’s awareness of his illness and the determination with which he faces it to be cured is of vital importance.
AtDesconect@we offer a multidisciplinary treatment. Our team is made up of doctors, psychologists, pedagogues, occupational therapists and nutritionists for a complete approach.
Of course. Big technology companies have developed platforms for players to interact on them while they play, known and unknown with the risk that it implies.
Your child will see videos of other players playing (even current referents such as YouTubers), which generates more need to play.
An open door to gambling: The latest report from the Spanish Observatory for Drugs and Addictions, from 2018, stated that 82% of young people between the ages of 14 and 18 had played video games in the last year, half of them weekly, and the vast majority an average of two hours a day. Three out of ten said they had spent money in the game to improve their position, their character, their accessories or their image. And 6 percent of the total would present a potential disorder due to the use of video games.
Facts about eating disorders in adolescents
The latest studies indicate that 5% of the Spanish population between 12 and 21 years of age suffers from an Eating Disorder (according to ACAB-Association Against Anorexia and Bulimia).
9 out of 10 cases are women.
Only between 5-10% of those affected are men (prevalence of bulimia and binge eating syndrome).
The mildest forms within the TCA spectrum have a prevalence between 11-16%.
The age of onset of Anorexia Nervosa is between 13 and 18 years. There are more and more cases in pre-pubescent girls and in adult women.
The age of onset in Bulimia is usually between 18 and 25 years.
78% of adolescents who come to consultation with problems of overweight and obesity due to school stress, insecurity, interpersonal problems and depression are diagnosed with Binge Eating Disorder.
Benefits Program Offline@
Pioneer TCA Program
Highly effective method and with great satisfaction on the part of our patients.
Multidisciplinary team
Specialists of all kinds (teachers, psychologists, educational psychologists...) to cover any need during treatment.
Barcelona and Madrid
We have fully adapted day hospitals to cover any situation related to this type of disorder.
Testimonials Desconect@ Program
Marc Masip | Director of Desconect@
Marc Masip is a psychologist and an expert in addiction to New Technologies, in addition to director of Desconect@, with a pioneering program born in 2012 to learn how to make good use of new technologies without damaging our personal relationships and without creating dependencies or addictions.
Impart conferences in schools and institutes of ESO and baccalaureate, in Spain and abroad. Also, organize camps and have one special unit for educate young people who, due to their addiction, cannot attend regulated training.
