Could my teen have a serious problem?

If you’re concerned that your child is underweight or is losing weight, pay attention to any “restrictive” behaviors, suggests Steven Crawford, MD, associate medical director of The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt in Baltimore, Md. Some potential red flags:

• Large or sudden shifts in weight in either direction

• Continual fluctuations up and down in weight

• Cutting out entire food groups (i.e., fat or carbs) from the diet

• Counting calories or adherence to “diets”

• Frequently weighing oneself

• Evidence of binges (large amounts of food disappear) or purges (odor of vomit, diet pills, excessive exercise, etc.)