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Anorexia and bulimia are eating disorders and behavior that affect women most of all. But experts say the incidence is increasing among young men, although there is little talk of it.
Eating disorders are among the most prevalent mental health problems among teens in the world, according to the World Health Organization.
The so-called "vigorexia" – the obsession of having defined muscles and a gorgeous body – is also becoming more common among teenagers.
Experts believe that this is partly due to the pressure exerted by social networks.
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Jack started controlling what he was eating at the age of 12. He felt intimidated at school, where he called himself Fat.
This happened at about the same time the boy's parents decided to separate. The young man remembers that he felt anguished and uncontrolled about his own life.
"I stopped eating because my body was the only thing I could control in my life," he says.
Sport has become an obsession, an essential thing: he had to run to burn the calories ingested. Exercise was not a source of pleasure and distraction. He spent all his time counting the calories lost.
In less than two years, Jack became extremely sick. I could not walk and talk to friends. He did not even have the ability to stay awake for several hours.
The decisive moment for recovery occurred when he finally admitted that he had a problem and that he needed help.
He consulted a doctor who referred him to the British Children's Mental Health Service. Jack's situation was so serious that they decided to put him in the hospital.
There, he received treatment and began to recover. Jack was also encouraged to talk about the problem. They gave him a diet plan to eat healthier.
During treatment, the relationship between adolescents and sports has evolved. It's become fun rather than an obsession.
Another important step in the recovery was the release of all social networks. He added that photos and comments from people on the Internet had put him at ease and in safety.
For Jack, social networks have become a kind of "noise", with images and negative words that only hurt him.
Little by little, he began to understand that his appearance was not the most important thing. After six months under the constant supervision of the doctors and the family, he felt able to take care of himself.
Now the young man is 20 years old and is completely cured of anorexia. He thinks that if he had already opened up to someone before, he might not have developed the eating disorder.
The role of social networks
Child psychiatrist Sandeep Ranote told the BBC that there was no research to prove that social networks are causing eating disorders, but he believes that they may worsen the problem.
"Many platforms like Instagram and Snapchat rely on publishing editable images (with effects and filters) and they do not always reveal the reality," he said.
"This can be beneficial for young people who believe that they have to live up to this image, and seeing these altered photos constantly can make them feel that they are not good enough."
Interviewed as part of this story, several teens aged 14 to 16 years said they felt pushed by the physical appearance that they are supposed to post on social networks.
One teenager said that he wanted to "have more muscles," another said that he wanted to be thinner. A third was stated: "People judge you by their appearance."
Young people also said that social networks made them feel as good as celebrities who post photos. They also say that they are forced to wear certain clothes and accessories.
Some even said that they felt unhappy when they realized that they were not meeting that expectation.
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