Obese Teenagers Who Lose Weight Often Experience Eating Disorders

Formerly overweight adolescents tend to have more medical complications from eating disorders, according to a Mayo Clinic study, and it takes longer to diagnose the disorders. The researchers said adolescents with a history of being overweight or obese make up a substantial portion of adolescents who are treated for eating disorders. The study looked at two examples of eating disorders that developed after obese adolescents reduced their weight. Both examples showed how difficult it was to identify eating disorders in formerly obese children and the subsequent delay in getting appropriate medical help.