Know the Signs of Eating Disorders in Children and Teens

The Peds Pod by Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital

A secondary effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the significant increase in eating disorder diagnoses and relapses in the pediatric population. Eating disorders are among the most fatal psychiatric illnesses, so concerns raised by parents, friends, teachers, or others should be taken seriously and evaluated by a physician as soon as possible. However, eating disorders take many forms and can be tricky to identify. Dr. Michelle Bowden, a General Pediatrician at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital who specializes in adolescent medicine and is an Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, is here to talk with us about Le Bonheur’s Eating Disorders Clinic, as well as how parents can receive support while navigating their child’s eating disorder.