When “Doing Well” Hurts: Understanding Teen Pressure and Eating Disorders
Blog Post by Mia Lerner, Teen Founder of Project Unlaced
Being a teenager has never been easy; today’s teens feel constant, inescapable pressure. From social media and academic expectations to body standards and performance culture, teens are growing up in an environment that demands perfection.
For some teens, this pressure shows up as anxiety, perfectionism, or people-pleasing. It can also manifest around food, exercise, and body image, sometimes developing into disordered eating or an eating disorder. Understanding why teens are under so much pressure is an essential step toward prevention, early support, and full recovery.
Why Today’s Teens Are Under So Much Pressure
Adolescence is already a time of physical and emotional development and increased sensitivity to social feedback. Today’s teens are navigating all that while being more visible and evaluated than any generation before them. Some of the most common sources of pressure include:
Social media and constant comparison - Teens are bombarded with curated images of bodies, lifestyles, and “success”. Even when they know images are edited or staged, repeated exposure can quietly shape how they see themselves and their expectations.
Academic and productivity culture - Many teens feel pressure to excel academically, build resumes, and constantly “do more”. One reason for this feeling of competition comes from the pressure of college applications. Rest is often framed as laziness rather than a basic need.
Appearance and body scrutiny - Body changes during adolescence are normal. However, they are now happening under a cultural microscope that values thinness and aesthetic perfection. For instance, it is almost impossible not to scroll on social media or watch TV without seeing advertisements for weight-loss drugs or the newest diet.
The pressure to be “okay.” - Teens are often praised for being low-maintenance or resilient. This can make it harder to ask for help.
How Pressure Can Turn Into Disordered Eating or an Eating Disorder
Disordered eating and eating disorders are not about vanity or attention. More often, it develops as a coping strategy. For teens under constant pressure, disordered eating can offer:
Structure and a sense of control
Validation of praise for discipline or “health”
A way to manage difficult emotions
Disordered eating exists on a spectrum and may include behaviors such as rigid food rules, skipping meals, guilt around eating, or compulsive exercise. Not all teens who struggle with these behaviors meet criteria for an eating disorder, but all deserve care and support.
Athletics and Performance Pressure: When “Healthy” Becomes Harmful
Athletics can offer many benefits for teens, including community, confidence, and stress relief. However, sports environments can also intensify pressure around body size, food, and performance. Athletes may experience:
Pressure to maintain a certain body type for performance or aesthetics
Normalization of pushing through pain, fatigue, or hunger
Praise for extreme discipline or restrictive behaviors
Confusion between fueling for sport and rigid food rules
Because these behaviors are often framed as dedication or commitment, concerns may be overlooked by adults, or even reinforced.
Why Teens Often Don’t Ask for Help
Many teens struggling with food and body image face many barriers, including:
Fear of disappointing parents, coaches, or teachers
Belief that their struggles are “not serious enough”
Normalization of harmful behaviors among peers
Lack of education to describe what they’re experiencing
Support works best when it feels collaborative, not punitive. Teens are more likely to open up when they feel heard and respected.
What Adults Can Do to Support Teens
Parents, caregivers, educators, and coaches play a powerful role in shaping teens’ relationships with food, movement, and their bodies. Here are a few supportive approaches:
Shift the focus away from appearance - Comment on effort, creativity, kindness, and growth rather than appearance.
Model balanced behaviors - Teens notice how adults talk about food, exercise, and their own bodies.
Create space for rest and imperfection - Normalize breaks, flexibility, and setbacks as part of being human.
Listen with curiosity, not correction - When a teen shares a concern, lead with empathy rather than solutions.
Closing Thoughts
As a sixteen-year-old myself, I know firsthand the pressure teens face today. During the COVID-19 pandemic, life suddenly felt out of control. For the first time, I noticed what I was eating and how my body appeared. What started as small adjustments to feel “healthier” soon turned into every day revolving around food and exercise. Rather than being met with concern, many of these disordered behaviors were praised. Friends, adults, and coaches commented on my “discipline”. Even my pediatrician congratulated me on my figure. Instead of raising red flags, these responses reinforced the idea that I was being healthy and successful.
My experiences showed me how easily teen pressure and disordered eating can be overlooked when control, thinness, and productivity are rewarded. Recognizing these patterns earlier and responding with curiosity and care can make a real difference in prevention, early support, and recovery.
Mia Lerner, Founder
Project Unlaced
About the Author: Mia Lerner is a high school junior in Southern California and the founder of Project Unlaced, a platform she created after her own struggle with an eating disorder reshaped her life. Turning lived experience into advocacy, she works to amplify youth voices and reduce stigma around disordered eating and body empowerment. Mia hopes to pursue research in the field of eating disorders, focusing on early intervention and improving access to evidence-based care.