Preventing treatment dropout and relapse in eating disorder recovery requires a combination of motivation, structured support, and emotional resilience. Many individuals struggle with ambivalence, fear of weight gain, or resistance to change, which can lead them to disengage from treatment or return to disordered behaviors. By identifying early warning signs and implementing relapse prevention strategies, patients can stay on the path toward long-term recovery.

Perfectionism is often seen as a negative trait—especially when it fuels eating disorders, anxiety, and self-criticism. However, not all perfectionism is harmful. When understood and managed well, perfectionism can be a gift that fosters resilience, motivation, and success in recovery and life.

Many teens with eating disorders (EDs) struggle with poor sleep quality, including insomnia, frequent waking, or restless sleep. Disruptions in sleep can make mood, appetite regulation, and recovery harder, so establishing good sleep hygiene is essential.

Purging—whether through vomiting, laxative use, excessive exercise, or fasting—is a serious and dangerous behavior associated with bulimia nervosa, binge-purge subtype anorexia, and other eating disorders. Helping a teen overcome purging requires compassion, medical and psychological intervention, and a structured recovery plan.

Eating disorders significantly impact gut health, leading to digestive issues, altered gut bacteria, and long-term gastrointestinal (GI) complications. The relationship between the gut and the brain (gut-brain axis) means that disordered eating not only affects digestion but also mood, anxiety, and mental health. Understanding this connection can help improve treatment, symptom management, and recovery.

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder characterized by extreme food avoidance and restriction, but unlike anorexia, it is not driven by body image concerns. ARFID goes beyond normal picky eating and can lead to severe nutritional deficiencies, weight loss, and social impairments.

In recent years, there has been a notable rise in eating disorders (EDs) among younger children, including those as young as 6 to 12 years old. Traditionally associated with adolescents and adults, eating disorders are now being diagnosed earlier, raising concerns about early-onset disordered eating behaviors and their long-term impact on physical and mental health.

Transgender individuals face a significantly higher risk of developing eating disorders (EDs) compared to their cisgender peers. This increased vulnerability is linked to body dysphoria, societal pressures, discrimination, and mental health struggles.

Eating disorders are often complex conditions arising from a blend of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. Anxiety, depression, and eating disorders in children often intertwine in a complex relationship, with each condition potentially influencing the onset and progression of the others.  Research suggests that children with heightened anxiety or depressive symptoms may develop disordered eating behaviors as a form of coping

While COVID-19 has faded from headlines, its ripple effects are far from over — especially for young people. One of the most complex and underrecognized intersections? The relationship between Long COVID and eating disorders.

Both conditions can affect the body, brain, and daily functioning in profound ways. And in some cases, they appear side by side — complicating diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.

Eating disorders aren’t just about food, body image, or weight. They are often:

• Attempts to manage anxiety or chaos

• Ways to feel control or structure when life feels unpredictable

• Numbing tools for emotional pain or trauma

• Signals that something deeper is distressing the person

Eating disorders don’t just affect nutrition and weight — they can also impact the body’s ability to eat safely. One symptom that can be frightening, misunderstood, and often overlooked is dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing.

When we talk about malnutrition, people often think of physical signs — weight loss, weakness, or fatigue. But one of the most profound (and often invisible) effects of malnutrition happens where we least expect it:

The brain.

Whether from an eating disorder like anorexia nervosa, ARFID, or even chronic dieting, undernourishment directly affects how the brain functions, feels, and processes the world. And when the brain is underfed, it can impact everything from emotions to memory, focus, sleep, and even personality.

Let’s take a look at how malnutrition changes the brain — and why nutritional rehabilitation is critical not just for the body, but for the mind.

Adolescence is a time of rapid growth — physically, emotionally, and socially. It’s also a time when many young people begin to develop more complex relationships with food, body image, and peer comparison. But for some, those changes can signal something more serious:

A teen eating disorder.

Eating disorders are not just about food — they are mental health disorders with serious physical consequences. They can be hard to spot, especially in teens who may hide symptoms or appear “fine” on the outside. But early recognition is key to preventing long-term health complications and increasing the chance of full recovery.

Many children and teens today feel immense pressure to be perfect — to achieve high grades, win every competition, stay in control, and never mess up. While perfectionism can sometimes look like motivation or high standards, underneath it often lives anxiety, fear of failure, and self-criticism.

Being resilient doesn’t always feel good.
Sometimes, it feels like exhaustion.
Like showing up when you’d rather hide.
Like holding steady while your insides are unraveling.
Like doing the “right” thing while no one’s clapping for you.