At Fairwinds Treatment Center, we are well aware of the harmful effects and vast impact that eating disorders can have on a person's well-being and lifestyle. From bulimia and anorexia to EDNOS disorders, these issues can overtake anyone, at any age, anywhere. 

Internationally, the prevalence of eating disorders among preteens and adolescents has increased to previously inconceivable highs. The Irish Independent reports that in the United Kingdom, boys as young as 12 are seeking treatment alongside girls at least that young. We at Fairwinds know all too well that those same problems extend to the United States and beyond.

This global focus on appearance is often fed by international female media role models like Kim Kardashian and Miley Cyrus, who are constantly in the spotlight for their looks. Another growing problem is the widespread use and promotion of "thinspiration" websites, which can connect eating disorder sufferers around the world, reinforcing irrational or negative behavior among already vulnerable individuals.

"The problem is that nobody has taught them how to handle their feelings," one doctor tells the source. "Self-harm is an initial response to emotional distress. Those affected don't know what to do, because they are unaware of how to deal with this problem … Some girls handle their anxiety disorder by focusing on their appearance."

Fairwinds Treatment Center's globally renowned eating disorder expert, Dr. Pauline Powers, has long held that underlying psychological, mental and emotional issues such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder cause or contribute to self-harming behavior. That's why she uses our unique dual diagnosis methodology to promote healing inside and out, providing patients with personalized combinations of clinical treatment and therapeutic counseling to pave the way for a lasting recovery. If you have an eating disorder, there is simply nowhere better than Fairwinds to find healing.  

Consulting with medical professionals if you think your teen might have an eating disorder is the best way to get them the help they need. While many people think that anorexia and bulimia go hand-in-hand with people who are unhealthy-looking or extremely thin, remember that your teen doesn't necessarily have to exhibit these signs to be struggling with an eating disorder. If you believe that your teen may be challenged with a negative body image, relationship with food or in need of anxiety treatment contact the experts at Fairwinds Treatment Center in Clearwater, Florida.