Should I be worried about my child and eating disorders?
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If you can answer yes to any of the following questions, your child may be at risk for eating disorders.
- Is your child an adolescent female?
- Is your child part of a group that stresses dieting or weight loss?
- Did you ever or have your other children ever had an eating disorder?
- Does your child seem to be preoccupied with weight or diet?
- Has your child gone on "pro-ana" websites that promote unhealthy eating habits
If you think your child might have an eating disorder, speak to your child's doctor as soon as possible.
If you can answer yes to any of the following questions, your child may be at risk for eating disorders. Is your child an adolescent female? Is your child part of a group that stresses dieting or weight loss? Did you ever or have your other... More -
Most eating disorders develop during adolescence; however they can also start in childhood. Children as young as 5 or 6 have been diagnosed with eating disorders; it is uncommon but can happen. Females are much more vulnerable. Ninety to 95 percent of those who develop an eating disorder are female. They are most often between the ages of 12 and 25. However we are now seeing more children under the age of twelve developing eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa and compulsive eating is the most common in young children, but there are cases of bulimia being reported too. An estimated that 40% of nine year olds have already tried dieting and we are beginning to see four and five year olds expressing the need to diet? The family environment has a lot to do with eating disorder development, along with the fact that children are constantly being exposed to the message society gives about the importance of being thin.
Here are some eating disorder warning signs you can look for:
- rapid weight gain or weight loss
- irritability or moodiness
- hiding food
- hoarding food
- rapid disappearance of food from the kitchen
- finding food hidden in your child’s room
- finding food in the trash
- preoccupation with weight or body shape/size
- fear of weight gain
- history of dieting and excessive talk about food
Most eating disorders develop during adolescence; however they can also start in childhood. Children as young as 5 or 6 have been diagnosed with eating disorders; it is uncommon but can happen. Females are much more vulnerable. Ninety to 95 percent... More -
Adolescence is an important time when the child's health and nutritional needs are increased due to growth and body composition changes. Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and other nonspecific eating disorders can have severe related psychological and medical conditions. Heart disease, obesity and diabetes are just a few conditions related to eating disorders. Some physical signs of eating disorders may include low blood pressure, low body temperature, dry hair and skin, absent or abnormal menstrual periods, heart murmurs, edema, callouses on the backs of the hands, loss of tooth enamel, and abnormal weight. Some psychological symptoms that are associated with eating disorders are increased stress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and suicidal ideation. It is important to know that not all children with eating disorders exhibit these signs. An evaluation by your child's doctor may be helpful in assessing the severity of any symptoms in order to establish an appropriate intervention.Adolescence is an important time when the child's health and nutritional needs are increased due to growth and body composition changes. Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and other nonspecific eating disorders can have... More
