289: Signs Your Teen is Heading Towards an Eating Disorder | Dr. Kelly Bhatnagar

Your kid announces they’re cutting out sugar. No cookies or dessert, just carrots and hummus for lunch on repeat. You notice they’ve lost a little weight. And somewhere in the back of your mind, a voice keeps asking: is this fine, or is this not fine?

Are you being anxious, or are you being appropriately worried? That in-between space is exhausting. If that’s where you are right now, you’re not overreacting, and you’re not alone.

Dr. Kelly Bhatnagar walks us through what actually separates a “healthy eating” phase from something worth a closer look — and why the kids who need the most support are often the ones who feel, to themselves, the most in control.

You’ll walk away with a simple framework for bringing this up with your kid — one that doesn't require perfect timing or the perfect words. 

Dr. Lisa Damour is a clinical psychologist, New York Times bestselling author, and globally recognized expert on adolescent development who partners with UNICEF to support parents worldwide.

Dr. Kelly Bhatnagar is a licensed clinical psychologist and eating disorder specialist with over 20 years of experience, co-founder of the Center for Emotional Wellness, and a certified provider of Maudsley Family-Based Treatment for adolescents.

Dr. Bhatnagar’s eating disorder consulting services and program development coaching: www.eatpsychscience.com

Maudsley Family-Based Treatment: https://www.aedweb.org/aed-training-program/training-program-mantra-11-2026

The Academy for Eating Disorders (AED): https://www.aedweb.org/home

F.E.A.S.T. (Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders): https://feast-ed.org/

American Academy of Pediatrics statement about weight and behavior-focused guidance: https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/138/3/e20161649/52684/Preventing-Obesity-and-Eating-Disorders-in

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