Research reveals link between eating disorders and self-harming behavior in teens

By Staff Writer

Research from the Stanford University School of Medicine and the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital shows that teens who struggle with eating disorders are also likely to exhibit self-harming behavior.

The study found that 40.8 percent of patients with eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia also documented incidents of injuring themselves. The study examined the records of 1,432 patients between the ages of 10 and 21 who suffered from eating disorders and found that more than 90 percent were females. Meanwhile, 75 percent of sufferers were around the age of 15.

Research revealed that under 50 percent of healthcare providers did not ask these patients if they intentionally hurt themselves. Analysts say that individuals with these disorders are not likely to volunteer such information if they are not questioned.

Studies show that between 13 and 40 percent of adolescents engage in some form of self-harm, which increases the chance that they will commit suicide. Schools for troubled teens can help those who suffer from self-injuring behavior and eating disorders by designing treatment to suit these individuals and encouraging them to reach specific life goals.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 472,000 people visited the emergency room for self-inflicted injuries in 2009.