Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that affect a child or teenager’s relationship with food, body image, and eating habits. They are not simply about food — they are deeply connected to emotions, self-esteem, and mental well-being. If left untreated, eating disorders can have severe physical and psychological consequences.

• Extreme restriction of food intake or obsession with calorie counting
• Episodes of binge eating followed by feelings of guilt or shame
• Purging behaviors such as self-induced vomiting or misuse of laxatives
• Intense fear of gaining weight or a distorted perception of their own body
• Noticeable weight loss, fatigue, or physical health complications