When kids hear someone say that food makes them “fat” they might start to worry about their bodies and how they look — and some kids stop eating right, eat too little, or try to make themselves throw up after they eat. Not eating right can make kids sick. Not eating enough food or eating food and then throwing up can cause problems with growing and developing in a healthy way.
The thought of having a young child develop an eating disorder is saddening. Unfortunately, in more recent years the number of children diagnosed with eating disorders has been on the rise. Children as young as 7 can be diagnosed with an eating disorder and the prevalence of eating disorders in young children has been growing.
Parents
Parents are not to be blamed for a child’s eating disorder, but as a parent you can be a very positive force when helping a young child recover from an eating disorder. In very young children it will most likely be the parents who are relied on to deliver a constant and structured recovery plan. This can be done with the help of a treatment team and peers.
Symptoms to watch out for:
Refusal to eat
Reduction in portion size
Body image concerns
Social withdrawal
Fine hair growing on body
Hiding or hoarding food
Weight loss or failure to gain weight in a growing child
Lack of growth
Hyperactivity or excessive movement such as leg jiggling, running around, or standing and refusing to sit still
Thinning hair on head Menstrual cycle abnormalities in girls Personality changes, usually irritability or depression
Anger when offered food
