Body image and eating disorders in adolescence: a current problem

Abstract

Eating Disorders (ED) are serious and persistent mental disorders characterized by abnormal concerns about weight and body image, which compromise physical and emotional health and arise during adolescence due to the characteristics of this age group when physical, emotional and social changes occur that make adolescents very vulnerable and at greater risk for these disorders. This article presents the main characteristics of the emotional development of adolescents, the construction of body image and self-image, which are closely linked to the emergence of different types of ED (anorexia nervosa, atypical bulimia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder), as well as the clinical characteristics and repercussions of ED on physical and emotional health and some treatment options.