Bullying and Eating Disorders
By Staff Writer
Eating disorders are caused by a complex blend of genetic, social, emotional and psychological factors. New research shows that bullying may also be a contributing factor for some young people who develop eating disorders.
The British charity Beat interviewed more than 600 adolescents and young adults suffering from anorexia, bulimia or binge eating disorder. Ninety-one percent of the teens surveyed said they had been bulled, and almost half (46 percent) said they believed that bullying had contributed to their eating disorder.
Some teens find that eating disordered behaviors such as binging and purging provide a sense of relief from the stress and anxiety of being bullied. In these situations, eating disorders become a type of coping mechanism rather than an obsession with appearance or an issue of body image.
"Bullying lowers your self-esteem and having low self esteem is a really big risk factor for an eating disorder developing," explained Susan Ringwood, Beat's chief executive.
Other teens find that eating disorders give them a sense of control at a time when life is spiraling downward. When bullies are threatening, attacking, spreading rumors online or engaging in other harassing behaviors, an eating disorder makes some teens feel empowered in one area of their lives.
One Pennsylvania mother was fed up with middle school bullies harassing her daughter, repeatedly taunting her and calling her "fat." She sued the school district, alleging that classroom bullying caused her daughter to develop anorexia, which led to a stay in a residential eating disorder treatment program. The lawsuit alleges that the school's guidance counselor failed to take action to end the bullying even when approached by the girl's mom.
Other parents have sued schools over their failure to protect teens from bullying, many of whom have lost their children to suicide as a result of emotional torture from other kids. In addition to eating disorders, research in the journal Pediatrics has linked teen bullying with anxiety disorder (in victims of bullying) and antisocial personality disorder (in bullies themselves).
While most experts agree that bullying doesn't necessarily cause eating disorders, bullying may exacerbate an existing problem. And attacks on a teen's appearance or weight can be equally as damaging as racial or homophobic slurs.
Dealing with Bullies
Teeb bullying is gaining widespread attention for the short- and long-term damage it inflicts on both victims and the bullies themselves. Bullies and their victims are more likely to be coping with family dysfunction, parental violence, conduct and personality disorders, and increased criminal conduct.
Teens who are being bullied or acting aggressively toward others need immediate attention from the adults in their lives, including parents, school officials and medical professionals. If your child is being bullied, speak with the teachers and counselors at your child's school right away and demand swift action. If you discover that your teen is bullying other kids, your child may need therapy to address the issues underlying their behavior.
Certain types of therapeutic programs for teens can help both bullies and their victims. Wilderness programs, therapeutic boarding schools and adolescent residential treatment centers provide therapy, education, family counseling and a positive peer environment to help bullies work through their anger and aggression and their victims build confidence and coping skills.
Finding Eating Disorder Treatment
Whether caused by bullying or some other factor, eating disorders also require immediate intervention. Anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder are life-threatening mental illnesses that usually require professional treatment.
If you catch the disease in its early stages, outpatient eating disorder treatment may be sufficient. In more serious cases, residential eating disorder treatment is often called for to help teens develop healthier coping mechanisms and a new perspective on food, their bodies and their lives.
