The fear of slipping behind in school shouldn’t be a barrier to connecting with lifesaving eating disorder care. While this concern is common and valid, your child or patient’s health must come before any outside commitments or responsibilities—including their education. The good news? Prioritizing health does not have to adversely affect academic progress.

Why Treatment Can’t Wait

Removing a child from the school environment can be an overwhelming decision, especially when the child is excelling in academics, participating in extracurricular activities, enjoying positive school-based social relationships, or working to maintain or achieve an academic scholarship.

Even if things appear to be going well, eating disorders can be significantly disruptive and make it hard for your child to truly thrive in school. Eating disorder symptoms related to the classroom include:

An inability to concentrate

Fatigue

Brain fog and delayed processing

Social withdrawal

Heightened perfectionism

Poor task prioritization

Impaired mood regulation

A lack of motivation

Difficulty switching tasks

Treatment for any eating disorder should be considered urgent, even if a student’s symptoms appear mild. The school environment can be high-risk for those susceptible to disordered eating and eating disorders as well. For some individuals, school can trigger or exacerbate eating disorder symptoms as a way to cope with related potential stressors, such as:

Academic pressure

Social comparison

Appearance-based bullying

Demanding schedules or workloads

Sports performance pressure

Scattered mealtimes in potentially chaotic settings

Diet talk from peers, teachers, and/or coaches

Many caregivers and providers worry their loved one’s mental health may worsen with the disruption to their regular school routine or distance from their peers and extracurriculars. In actuality, research tells us that the risk of not accessing care is generally greater than any risk of taking time away from school.

Eating disorders are dangerous and potentially life-threatening illnesses. The longer care is delayed, the greater the risks are to the body, the mind, and one’s overall quality of life. On the other hand, treatment allows symptoms to lessen, school-based challenges to become less daunting, and students’ chances of academic success and achievements to increase. Stepping away from the stressors and social pressures of school means more mental attention and energy to focus on lasting eating disorder recovery, which will enable a child to build a life worth living in the many years to come.

Communicating with a Child’s School About Treatment

Deciding whether or how to inform a child’s school about their eating disorder can depend on several factors, including the severity of the eating disorder, recommendations from professionals, the stage of the child’s recovery or treatment, and whether they could benefit from accommodations at school.

Communication with the school about absences for appointments or upcoming extended treatment stays is critical. Key school staff include the child’s school counselor, social worker, or nurse. A trusted teacher may also be helpful in connecting you to important staff members who can assist in making arrangements.

School accommodations may include:

Supervision at or after meals

Supportive eating spaces

An identified person to check in with if needed as they navigate their day

Distress management options, such as passes to leave class, the ability to bring fidgets to class, the ability to listen to music, etc.

Modified workloads or extensions for schoolwork

If your child or patient participates in extracurricular activities, it’s crucial to inform their directors and coaches about the child’s health concerns and need for treatment, as well as any necessary adjustments to their participation or potential absences. Depending on your child’s situation and preference for privacy, it may be beneficial for them to maintain communication with their extracurricular leaders or peers while they’re in treatment.

Making the decision to seek eating disorder treatment can be overwhelming. The best first step is to talk with your child’s healthcare provider.