Overlooked signs of eating disorders in teens and adults and how specialized therapy at The Eating Disorder Center in Rockville, Maryland can help

 By Jennifer Rollin, MSW, LCSW-C: Therapist & Founder of The Eating Disorder Center

When most people picture an eating disorder, they imagine someone who is emaciated, skipping meals, or openly struggling with food. In reality, eating disorders are often far more subtle. Many people who are suffering appear successful, ‘high functioning,’ and ‘healthy’ on the outside. This is especially true in high pressure communities like Rockville, Bethesda, Potomac, Chevy Chase, and other areas of Montgomery County, Maryland.

Eating disorders do not have one “look,” one body size, or one personality type. They affect people across ages, genders, body types, races, and backgrounds, and they are frequently missed at the onset. Understanding what eating disorders actually look like can help people get support earlier. 

Eating disorders often hide behind so called “healthy” behaviors

In communities that value achievement and productivity, disordered eating can be mistaken for ‘healthy habits.’ Restrictive eating may be praised. Excessive exercise may be framed as ‘dedication.’  Skipping meals is often explained away as being busy or driven.

Some individuals struggling with eating disorders are perfectionistic and highly motivated. They may excel academically, professionally, or athletically. From the outside, they appear to be ‘doing well.’ However, iInternally, food, weight, and body image may dominate their thoughts and cause significant distress.

Some common but often overlooked warning signs include:

• Rigid food rules or anxiety around eating outside of a rigid routine
• Cutting out entire food groups without a medical reason
• Difficulty eating in social situations
• Feeling intense guilt or shame after eating
• Exercising to manage anxiety or “earn” food rather than for enjoyment
• Persistent dissatisfaction with body image
• Fear of gaining weight
• Overuse of condiments or diet sodas
• Spending a lot of time in the bathroom after eating
• Large amounts of food going missing in the house
• Eating in secret 

These behaviors can occur at any body size. Someone does not need to be ‘underweight’ to have a serious eating disorder.

Teens and adults are both at risk

Eating disorders sometimes begin during adolescence, but many adults in Rockville, Maryland and surrounding communities also struggle. Teens may face pressure related to academics, sports, social media, or comparison with peers. Adults may struggle during life transitions such as pregnancy, postpartum, career changes, or aging.

Parents are often surprised to learn that eating disorders are not always obvious. A teen who performs strongly in school, and rarely complains may still be struggling internally. Adults may normalize their own behaviors, believing that chronic dieting or body dissatisfaction is just part of life.

In reality, eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that can impact physical health, emotional wellbeing, relationships, and overall quality of life.

Eating disorders are not about vanity or willpower

One of the most harmful myths about eating disorders is that they are driven by vanity or a lack of self control. In truth, eating disorders can sometimes include a genetic component. While eating disorders are not choices, they often function as coping strategies. They can develop in response to anxiety, trauma, perfectionism, experiences of oppression, or a need for control during overwhelming or uncertain times.

Food and body related behaviors may temporarily reduce anxiety or create a sense of structure. Over time, however, these behaviors tend to become more rigid and consuming, making it difficult to stop without support.

This is why telling someone to “just eat” or “stop worrying about weight” is not helpful. Eating disorder recovery requires specialized, compassionate care that addresses both the underlying emotional and overt behavioral aspects of the disorder.

How therapy at The Eating Disorder Center can help

At The Eating Disorder Center in Rockville, Maryland, we specialize exclusively in eating disorder therapy and body image treatment for teens and adults across Montgomery County and the greater DMV area. Our team understands that eating disorders are complex and deeply personal, and that effective treatment needs to go beyond surface level behavior change.

Our therapists take a trauma informed, compassionate approach that helps clients:

• Reduce anxiety around food and eating
• Build flexibility with meals and body image
• Address perfectionism and self critical thinking
• Heal the underlying emotional drivers of the eating disorder
• Develop coping skills that do not rely on food or body control

We work with individuals struggling with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, chronic dieting, negative body image, compulsive exercise, and disordered eating. We also support clients navigating eating disorders during pregnancy, postpartum, and other major life transitions.

Additionally, eating disorders often do not come alone-so we treat individuals with eating disorders and co-occurring OCD, trauma, anxiety and depression.

Full recovery is possible, and you do not have to wait until things get worse

Many people delay seeking help because they believe they are not “sick enough” or that they should be able to handle things on their own. If food, weight, or body image is taking up a significant amount of mental space, causing distress, or interfering with daily life, that is reason enough to reach out.

You deserve support before things reach a crisis point.

Get help

If you are concerned about yourself, your teen, or someone you love, reaching out for information is a meaningful first step. The Eating Disorder Center offers specialized therapy in Rockville and serves individuals throughout Bethesda, Potomac, Chevy Chase, and surrounding Maryland communities.

We offer a free 15 minute phone consultation which can help you understand what support might look like and whether it feels like a good fit.

Full recovery is possible, and you do not have to navigate this alone. You deserve to make peace with food, your body and yourself. 

 

Schedule a FREE 15-minute consultation to explore how eating disorder therapy or recovery coaching can help you to find freedom.

🌟 Available in MD, VA, DC, PA, FL, and CA for eating disorder therapy

🌍 Offering recovery coaching worldwide

 

 

The Eating Disorder Center is a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center founded by Jennifer Rollin. We specialize in helping children, teens, and adults struggling with anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, OSFED, and body image issues. We provide eating disorder therapy in Rockville, MD, easily accessible to individuals in Potomac, North Potomac, Bethesda, Olney, Silver Spring, Germantown, and Washington, D.C. We also provide eating disorder therapy in Arlington, Virginia and virtually throughout Virginia. Additionally, we offer eating disorder therapy virtually in Florida, Pennsylvania, and California. We provide eating disorder and EMDR trauma therapy in Rockville, Maryland and virtually throughout Maryland and Virginia. We provide eating disorder recovery coaching via Zoom to people worldwide. Connect with us through our website at www.theeatingdisordercenter.com