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Signs of Eating Disorders in Teenage Females

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that disproportionately affect teenage females, with research showing 1 in 5 young women will struggle with disordered eating behaviors.

At Adolescent Wellness Academy (AWA) in Miami, Florida, we specialize in helping families identify and address these concerning patterns early.

This guide will walk you through the most common signs of eating disorders in teenage females, explain why early intervention matters, and share how our treatment programs can support recovery.

Signs of eating disorders in teenage females

Physical Signs of Eating Disorders

Recognizing the physical warning signs of an eating disorder in your teenage daughter is crucial for early intervention. Some of the most common indicators include:

Noticeable Weight Fluctuations

  • Rapid weight loss or gain that seems unexplained
  • Frequent comments about feeling “fat” despite being underweight
  • Drastic changes in body shape over a short period

Changes in Eating Patterns

  • Skipping meals or making excuses not to eat
  • Cutting food into tiny pieces or pushing it around the plate
  • Sudden adoption of restrictive diets (vegan, gluten-free, keto, etc.)
  • Excessive focus on “clean eating” or eliminating entire food groups

Physical Symptoms

  • Dizziness, fainting spells, or persistent fatigue
  • Feeling cold constantly, which can be a sign of poor circulation
  • Hair thinning or significant hair loss
  • Dental erosion and sensitivity (a common sign of purging)
  • Gastrointestinal complaints, such as bloating, constipation, or acid reflux
Physical Signs of Eating Disorders

Behavioral and Emotional Signs

Eating disorders are not just about food; they also affect emotions and behaviors. Parents should be mindful of these telltale signs:

Food-Related Behaviors

  • Obsessive calorie counting or constantly reading nutrition labels
  • Secretive eating patterns, such as eating alone or hiding food
  • Excuses to avoid mealtimes with family
  • Excessive use of diet pills, laxatives, or diuretics

Exercise Obsession

  • Compulsive need to exercise, even when injured or sick
  • Extreme distress if unable to work out
  • Prioritizing exercise over school, friends, and hobbies

Body Image Fixation

  • Frequent body checking in mirrors
  • Wearing baggy clothes to hide weight loss
  • Comparing body shape to peers or celebrities excessively

Psychological Warning Signs

Eating disorders are deeply tied to a teenager’s emotional well-being. Some psychological warning signs include:

Mood Changes

  • Increased irritability or anxiety around mealtimes
  • Withdrawal from social activities, especially those involving food
  • Mood swings, depression, or feelings of low self-worth

Perfectionist Tendencies

  • Unrealistic academic or athletic expectations
  • Black-and-white thinking about food (e.g., “good” vs. “bad” foods)
  • Overwhelming fear of failure in various aspects of life

The Connection Between Eating Disorders and Troubled Teens

Eating disorders often occur in conjunction with other mental health challenges, such as anxiety, depression, and trauma.

Many troubled teens struggling with emotional distress turn to food as a means of control or coping. That’s why comprehensive programs for troubled teens, like those at AWA, address not only disordered eating but also the underlying psychological factors contributing to the behavior.

Why Early Intervention Matters

Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Without treatment, they can lead to severe complications, including:

  • Heart and organ damage
  • Osteoporosis
  • Fertility issues later in life
  • Permanent gastrointestinal problems

The sooner treatment begins, the better the chances for full recovery. At AWA, our evidence-based approach combines:

  • Nutritional rehabilitation with registered dietitians
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to address distorted thoughts
  • Family-based treatment to rebuild healthy relationships with food
  • Holistic support including mindfulness, yoga, and art therapy
The Connection Between Eating Disorders and Troubled Teens

Programs for Troubled Teens at AWA

At our Miami treatment center, we offer specialized eating disorder treatment for teenage females through our structured programs for troubled teens, including:

Outpatient Treatment for Troubled Teens

  • After-school sessions, allowing teens to continue their education
  • Group and individual therapy focusing on body image and self-esteem
  • Family support sessions to encourage open communication

Therapeutic Day Treatment for Troubled Teens

  • Full-day treatment with structured meals and therapy
  • Supervised nutritional rehabilitation to help restore healthy eating habits
  • Comprehensive psychological and emotional support

How to Support Your Teen

As a parent, your support can make a significant difference in your teen’s recovery. Here’s how you can help:

  1. Open Conversations: Encourage honest, judgment-free discussions about body image and self-esteem.
  2. Model Healthy Behaviors: Avoid making negative comments about your own or others’ bodies.
  3. Monitor Social Media Influence: Many teens develop unrealistic body expectations from social media; help them understand the impact of edited and filtered images.
  4. Encourage Professional Help: If you notice signs of an eating disorder, reach out to experts for guidance.

Take the Next Step

If you recognize these signs in your daughter, don’t wait to seek help. Eating disorders are serious but treatable with the right support.

Contact AWA today for a confidential assessment. Our compassionate team specializes in helping teenage females recover their health and confidence.

About the Author

Picture of Kimberly Carlesi

Kimberly Carlesi

Therapist

Kimberly, a dedicated therapist with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Florida International University, specializes in supporting individuals with eating disorders, trauma, and substance abuse. She creates a safe, nurturing environment for her client’s healing journeys, drawing from diverse therapeutic modalities like cognitive-behavioral and dialectical behavior therapy. With a focus on trust and collaboration, Kimberly empowers clients through personalized interventions, fostering self-awareness and resilience.
Kimberly, a dedicated therapist with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Florida International University, specializes in supporting individuals with eating disorders, trauma, and substance abuse. She creates a safe, nurturing environment for her client’s healing journeys, drawing from diverse therapeutic modalities like cognitive-behavioral and dialectical behavior therapy. With a focus on trust and collaboration, Kimberly empowers clients through personalized interventions, fostering self-awareness and resilience.
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Ornella Barille - Therapist (Davie)

Ornella is a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern and holds a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and has extensive experience working with diverse populations, including children, families, and young adults. Ornella has worked in both K-12 schools and at the college level, where she has developed a strong commitment to helping adolescents thrive by supporting their personal and academic growth and empowering them to reach their full potential.

Her therapeutic approach centers on creating a safe and welcoming environment where clients can feel comfortable exploring their needs and expressing themselves authentically. Ornella utilizes a blend of mindfulness, existential therapy, and cognitive-behavioral techniques to empower clients in navigating life’s challenges.

Ornella’s compassionate approach fosters self-awareness and encourages clients to build effective coping strategies to achieve their therapeutic goals.

Jamie Namer - Therapist (Davie)

Jamie specializes in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) guiding individuals and families toward healthier, more fulfilling lives. With a focus on positivity, self-growth, and holistic healing, Jamie integrates spiritual perspectives and deep empathy into the therapeutic process. Using solution-based methods and emotionally focused therapy, Jamie helps clients navigate past trauma, enhance self-discovery, and strengthen relationships.

Jamie’s approach combines therapeutic techniques with mind-body healing practices such as meditation, mindfulness, and visualization. Experienced in working with children, adolescents, adults, families, and groups, Jamie specializes in addressing issues like anxiety, grief, self-confidence, burnout, family dynamics, depression, PTSD, and life transitions. The goal is to promote overall well-being and support clients in living a balanced, healthy lifestyle.

Dr. Maria Angelica Mejia – Clinical Director (Davie)

Dr. Maria Angelica Mejia’s therapeutic approach is rooted in empathy, resilience-building, and collaboration. As the Clinical Director for Adolescent Wellness Academy, she is dedicated to supporting high-risk teens in navigating trauma, emotional distress, and life’s challenges with a holistic and trauma-informed lens. Dr. Mejia specializes in working with adolescents facing issues such as suicide risk, self-harm, anxiety, depression, and family conflict, utilizing techniques like CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and strength-based therapy. With extensive experience in community mental health, private practice, and clinical supervision, Dr. Mejia has a proven track record of empowering teens to overcome obstacles and thrive. She holds a PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy bringing a depth of knowledge and compassion to her leadership role.

Kimberly Geller

Kimberly Geller - Primary Therapist (Davie)

Kimberly is a compassionate and dedicated therapist with a Master’s degree in Social Work from Florida International University. Kimberly creates a nurturing and secure environment where clients can freely explore their emotions and embark on their journey toward healing and growth. Kimberly specializes in client-centered approaches that helps tailor her therapeutic methods to meet unique needs and goals. By fostering a collaborative therapeutic relationship, she empowers clients to develop effective coping skills and achieve meaningful progress in their mental health journey. Kimberly ensures that each person she works with feels understood and valued throughout their therapeutic process.

Zainub Fatta - Therapist (Davie)

Zainub holds a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University and has extensive experience treating a wide range of mental health issues in adults, teens, and children. She specializes in treating diverse mental health struggles such as anxiety, depression, trauma, bipolar disorder, social anxiety, anger management, etc. She also has a lot of experience treating addiction and substance abuse problems within various treatment centers. Zainub views mental health from a systemic perspective, emphasizing the significance of how one’s environment and childhood impacts them, which is why she also specializes in family therapy and couples therapy, when it comes to achieving holistic well-being. Passionate about empowering individuals to find their voice, she considers it a privilege to listen to their vulnerable stories and provide the support they need. Her therapeutic approach focuses on uplifting clients by building their confidence and challenging them to break old, negative patterns of thinking and behavior.

Krystine Garay

Krystine Garay – Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Krystine Garay is a licensed mental health counselor, marriage family therapist, and certified telehealth practitioner. Raised in Miami, Florida, and a member of the Hispanic community, she provides services in both English and Spanish. With five years of experience, she has worked with children, adolescents, and adults, focusing on domestic violence, substance abuse, family conflicts, co-occurring disorders, and mental health issues.
Krystine holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Florida International University and a master’s degree with dual specializations in mental health and marriage and family counseling from Barry University. She is pursuing a doctorate in clinical psychology with a concentration in health psychology from Carlos Albizu University.
Her clinical experience includes rotations at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, where she assisted children with co-occurring disorders using mindfulness exercises, cognitive-behavioral strategies, and dialectical-behavioral techniques.
Krystine believes in the power of personal growth and progress, and she is dedicated to fostering positive change in her clients’ lives.

Alyssa Mencucci – Therapist (Miami)

Alyssa is a dedicated master’s level clinician specializing in providing compassionate
therapy for adolescents and children facing severe mental health challenges. With a
deep understanding of the developmental stages and psychological needs of
adolescents and children, Alyssa offers expertise in addressing trauma-related issues,
guiding individuals through the complexities of grief, managing anxiety and depression,
navigating personality disorders, and supporting those dealing with PTSD. Alyssa uses
evidence-based techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, DBT, play therapy,
and trauma-focused interventions to create a safe and nurturing environment for
healing. Alyssa believes in a client-centered approach, tailoring therapy to meet the
unique needs and circumstances of each individual. She creates a safe and nurturing
environment where adolescents and children can explore their emotions, develop
coping skills, and embark on a journey of healing and growth.

Dr. Jacqueline Pablos – Clinical Director

Vulnerability and connection are at the heart of Dr. Pablos’ therapeutic approach. As the
Clinical Director for Adolescent Wellness Academy, she aims to create a safe space for
clients to embrace their emotions and express their needs in healthier ways. Dr. Pablos
specializes in treating depression, anxiety, body image issues, bullying, eating
disorders, and self-harm behaviors using techniques like CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and
ACT.
With extensive training in hospitals and counseling centers, Dr. Pablos has a strong
background in helping teens and adults with co-occurring mental and physical health
disorders. She holds a Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology, with specialized training
at institutions like Florida International University, Jackson Memorial Hospital,
Clementine Monte Nido, and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.

Kimberly

Kimberly Carlesi – Therapist (Miami)

Kimberly, a dedicated therapist with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health
Counseling from Florida International University, specializes in supporting individuals
with eating disorders, trauma, and substance abuse. She creates a safe, nurturing
environment for her clients’ healing journeys, drawing from diverse therapeutic
modalities like cognitive-behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. With a
focus on trust and collaboration, Kimberly empowers clients through personalized
interventions, fostering self-awareness and resilience.