Is My Child Okay? Early Warning Signs of Eating Disorders Every Parent Should Know
Summer is almost here. And while that means longer days, family time, and more meals eaten together, it also means something that doesn't get talked about enough: a seasonal rise in eating-disordered behaviours among young people.
For parents and caregivers, that can be a frightening thing to sit with. Because eating disorders rarely announce themselves. They show up quietly, in skipped meals, in comments about the mirror, in a child who used to love birthday cake suddenly finding reasons to avoid it.
The average age of onset for eating disorders is now 12 to 13 years old and teenagers are less likely than adults to seek treatment on their own, meaning most need a parent or caregiver to help them get care. That's why knowing what to look for matters so much.
What's the difference between disordered eating and an eating disorder?
These two terms are often used interchangeably, but they're not the same thing.
An eating disorder is a diagnosed mental health condition, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and others with specific clinical criteria.
Disordered eating refers to a range of irregular or unhealthy eating behaviours that don't necessarily meet the threshold for a diagnosis, but still cause harm. Skipping meals consistently, rigidly labelling foods as "good" or "bad," or feeling intense anxiety around eating are all examples. Disordered eating can exist on its own or it can be an early indicator that something more serious is developing.
Both deserve attention.
Early warning signs to look for
Noticing these signs doesn't mean your child has an eating disorder. But it does signal that checking in and possibly seeking support is worth doing.
Changes in behaviours around food:
Skipping meals or eating significantly less overall
Rigid thinking about food labelling things strictly as "healthy" or "unhealthy," "good" or "bad"
Avoiding food-related events: family meals, birthday cake, eating with friends
Changes in behaviour around themselves:
Increased stress or anxiety around mealtimes
Increased physical activity, particularly if it feels compulsive or distress-driven
Changes in body shape or weight
Becoming more socially withdrawn or less energetic
Frequently making comments about their body, weight, or appearance
None of these signs in isolation means your child is struggling with an eating disorder. But a pattern especially during a time of year when body focused pressures tend to rise is worth paying attention to.
Why summer specifically?
Warmer months tend to bring more exposure to swimsuits, skin, and comparison. For young people already navigating body image in a world that's saturated with curated images of how bodies "should" look, summer can intensify feelings that were already quietly there.
This isn't about alarm. It's about awareness.
If you're not sure how to start the conversation
This is where many parents get stuck. You see something that worries you, but you don't want to say the wrong thing, make it worse, or put an idea in your child's head that wasn't there before.
That hesitation is completely understandable and it's also exactly why support exists. You don't have to navigate this conversation alone.
At New Ground Wellness, our counsellors work with young people and their families navigating eating concerns, body image, anxiety, and the complicated emotional landscape that often lives underneath. If you're unsure about what you're seeing, or unsure how to approach it, reaching out for a conversation is always a valid first step.
