“Teens are not equipped with the same coping mechanisms as adults, and they face regular stressors related to emotional, physical, and social development—especially in a world where there’s a relentless focus on body image in social media,” says Gregorio Castillo, MD, staff psychiatrist and board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist at the outpatient Adolescent Program at Princeton. “If eating behaviors are a primary coping mechanism, or if teens lack role models for positive eating behaviors, emotional eating can quickly become a problem.”
Beyond the behavioral health implications, emotionally driven eating habits like bingeing, purging, and restricting during a time of critical physical development can lead to medical complications ranging from delayed puberty to an increased risk of osteopenia, osteoporosis, and heart, liver, or kidney problems. Identifying that there’s an issue is the first step.
“Teens are fully engaged in learning and making mistakes, so sometimes it’s difficult for parents to distinguish between normal teen behaviors and maladaptive behaviors,” says Katie Gaffney, registered dietitian at the Princeton Women’s Program and Adolescent Program. “When emotional eating behaviors are interfering with overall functioning or growth and development, treatment is needed.”
A Solution for all Genders
Part of the newly restructured outpatient Adolescent Program at Princeton (see page 3), the Emotional Eating Track (EET) for teens has bidirectional goals: to help them develop an understanding of how a mood disorder can impact eating, and to illuminate how certain eating habits could compound mood disorder symptoms.
Originally serving teen girls, the EET program is now open to all genders ages 13 to 17, as boys and gender-nonconforming teens in particular are an underserved population for the treatment of disordered eating behaviors. The program offers a traditional EET option as well as a more targeted dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) option for those who have suicidal ideation or the potential for self-harm.
“Psychoeducation, psychotherapy, and practical eating strategies can enable teens to achieve positive outcomes,” adds Gaffney. “Once they understand the connection between emotion dysregulation and eating behaviors, we provide them with a toolkit of alternative coping strategies and healthier life skills.”
Where to ReferPatients with mood disorders and disordered eating behaviors who are at least 90 percent of their ideal body weight and have a BMI of at least 18, with some exceptions, may be candidates for the Emotional Eating Track. Those with disordered eating who are under 85 percent of their ideal body weight and have medical comorbidities may be candidates for inpatient treatment at Princeton Center for Eating Disorders. Admissions Department staff are available to discern which program may be appropriate for a particular patient. To refer a patient, call 888.437.1610. |
For more information about the Adolescent Program, visit princetonhouse.org/teens or call 888.437.1610
Article as seen in the Fall 2019 issue of Princeton House Behavioral Health Today.
