There are other ways in which bulimia may be diagnosed. Because a teenager will be forcing themselves to bring up the food which they have eaten, they develop cavities near the gum line. So if you can discreetly watch their bathroom habits, are they constantly going to the bathroom after they have eaten in order to purge the food from their body? Do they brush their teeth often because they want to make themselves sick or have they loose stools and stomach cramps because they are taking laxatives?
Those teenagers who are suffering from anorexia will often play with the food on their plate, or say they are not hungry or that they earlier when they were out with their friends. Others may you have prepared for them to school…or if they do, they throw away as soon as you are out of sight.
Discreetly check with the school to see if they are eating meals at school, and if you are able to,
speak to their friends and find out what, if anything, they are eating when they are with them. However, it is important that you do not pry too much, or it will lead to them only hiding the problem from you even more.
If you are able to, monitor what they are reading and logging onto on the internet. For many teens, they will deny that they have a problem where eating is concerned. Parents must find a way to get past the idea that there is nothing troubling the teen, and that they go through stages when they don’t like certain foods or they will avoid eating a meal with the family.
However, if you are reading this chapter and you see things in it which seem familiar in relation to your teen, then it may be worth taking a further look at your teen’s lifestyle.
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