Eating Disorders in Children

Even Kids Are Suffering From Anorexia and Bulimia

Jun 11, 2007 Lori Henry

Sadly, the rate of eating disorders in children being treated and hospitalized is increasing for anorexia and bulimia.

Children are being treated for eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia and the rates are rising. Hospitals are getting calls from frantic parents who can’t get their elementary school-aged children to eat.

One school in Melbourne had an incident where young students had gone on a water-only diet. Even younger, 4 and 5 year olds are reported to be worried about getting fat, whether from seeing ultra thin ideals in the media or from the excessive anti-obesity campaigns.

"It's no longer now uncommon to admit 10, 11 or 12-year-olds for anorexia nervosa, whereas three years ago this would have been extremely unusual. This is a real phenomenon," said Professor Susan Sawyer, director of the centre for adolescent health at the Royal Children's Hospital (The Age, 2007).

With the rate of adult eating disorders also on the rise, this news is not altogether surprising, although heartbreaking. Parents of young children pass along their insecurities and body-related woes to their impressionable children.

Young kids are intuitive and like to mimic adults. If one or both parents is always on a diet or makes derogatory comments about their body, you can bet their children will pick up on it and internalize it.

The most common onset age for eating disorders used to be in the 16-21 year old range. It has lowered, with 7 year olds becoming a more regular population seeking hospital treatment.

The pace of modern life has also quickened to a run. Students are made to make decisions at a younger age about their future and the pressure to achieve begins as young as elementary school.

"Today there never seems to be a still moment. We live in an achievement focused society and sometimes if people can't achieve something the one thing they can do is have a lean body,” said Frederike Jacob, a psychotherapist at Suffolk East Eating Disorder Service in England (EADT 24, 2007).

The Eating Disorders Foundation in Victoria, Australia, held a survey to find out about young children and dieting. It revealed that 25% of 7 year olds had been on a diet. Other statistics show that the helpline of the organization has tripled in the amount of calls it’s received over the past 2 years.

If our society keeps going in the same direction, giving a high importance to weight and appearance, obesity and thinness, kids will keep getting anxious about their bodies at earlier and earlier ages. As adults, we must deal with out own toxic mindsets in order for the next generation to grow up in a healthier world, mentally, spiritually and physically.

The copyright of the article Eating Disorders in Children in Eating Disorders is owned by Lori Henry. Permission to republish Eating Disorders in Children in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Eating Disorders in Children: Anorexia and Bulimia

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Jun 11, 2007 2:44 AM

vicky ann smith :

I feel sad when I hear how eating disorders are increasingly affecting children; my nine year old niece does not eat much at meal times and she'll say 'but dad doesn't eat'. The last time I saw her over Easter, I said I was full after a meal and being the honest kid she is says 'you don't look full'. As she lives in Canada I only see her once a year but I worry about the messages she is getting from me and her dad, I try to be careful but you never can tell.

My mum had bulimia until I was born, she always says having kids made her rethink how she ate and I know she blames herself for my eating disorder, even though she shouldn't. I would love to have a family one day but I'm terrified of influencing anyone with my behaviours.

Jun 11, 2007 7:25 PM

Lori Henry :

Absolutely, this can be a very difficult situation. Parents who have been through an eating disorder are sensitive to their children, yet are always worried they will pass along the disordered behavior. Your niece seems to be at a very impressionable age and I can only hope that she will find other ways to cope with growing up than developing an eating disorder.

All you can do when you are with her is be as confident in your own skin as you can muster; when you're away, spend energy each day dealing with those issues yourself. The best thing we can do as adults is be as healthy as we can be and hope that it translates to the people around us that we love.

Nov 13, 2008 6:30 AM

Guest :

Tateanna Givens:

im just lerning alot about eating disorders and as i learn i start to worry about my nieces. One of my nieces started throwing up her food and i think we talked her out of it. She is in college now so i don't know what she does after she eats. Another one of my nieces is 9 years old and she is heavy set. I worry about her now because she gets picked on alot and she is smart enough to know that if she stop eating then she will lose weight, but i don't think she knows that that isn't the correct way and very unhealthy.

Nov 20, 2008 5:34 AM

Guest :

how do you know if it really is something to worry about my daughter is 7 and has gone of all food at the moment and has an excuse for everything don't like milk, its so spicy gone off of bread you name it shes said it she thinks she's fat she is no where near fat she is a really active child who loves gymnastics and trampolining but doesn't understand what shes doing i have tried to explain it to her but how do you deal with a 7 year old who thinks shes fat

Jan 3, 2009 4:03 PM

Guest :

monica:
hey guest, who stated:"my daughter is 7...she is a really active child who loves gymnastics and trampolining but doesn't understand what shes doing i have tried to explain it to her"

Anorexia Nervosa is common among gymnasts, unfortunately especially at a young age. I was an avid gymnast and battled my own battle with bulimia in the fifth grade. Its hard, but there are ways to deal with your daughters eating habits. Don't give her an option to give you every excuse in the world for why she's not eating.

:] if you would like to question me further, email me at: mo_stitch@sbcglobal.net

Mar 2, 2009 10:17 PM

Guest :

I have a 7 year old daughter. I am athletic, but never diet. I also have a 9 year old daughter who will try and eat everything she can. She says she "needs to feed her brain." My 7 yr old weighs 38 lbs. She came to me one day with a belt strapped around her leg and said, "mom, look, this is how fat I am." She does not like meat. I can only get her to eat salads and pasta. She likes cheese.
I am scared that she has some sort of eating disorder. If she see's other people eating and enjoying thier food, she will go the opposite. Its almost like it makes her sick to watch people eat. I do not know what to do. Do I take her to the doctor?
I picked her up from school today and she said she was really tired. When she came home, she had some orange juice, and she was fine. I went out and bought a new thermomiter, thinking mine was broken, and she was fine.
Could she be addicted to sugar, and that curves her appetite? I am really scared. She always wants something to drink. Is she on the liquid diet that I do not realize? If someone could give me some kind of guidance. I do not know what to do.
Please email me at afoster1314@yahoo.com or gimme advice here.
Sincerely,
Amy Foster

Sep 8, 2009 12:23 PM

Guest :

I have a neice who is 4. SHe will be 5 in March. She has stopped eating any solid food. I dont think it is anorexia but does anyone have any suggestions on what to do to get her to eat??? When you ask her if she will try to eat something she says "im thinking about it". She has not eating anything solid in 6 weeks, my sister has gotten her drink shakes and drink oediasure but she WILL NOT eat anything solid. the doctors that my sister has taken her to say it is just a faze and she will grow out of it. But she is not showing any signs of getting over it. She is 38 lbs and still loosing! Like i said i dont think it is an anorexia issue she never mentions being fat or loosing weight she says that she will choke if she eats. I have tried to get her to take small bites with me but she wont do it i have even bribed her with toys. She will only eat yogart, ice cream and she will drink chocolate milk and shakes. She seems like she is trying to fill her self up with liquids when she does get hungry. Any suggestions?

Feb 2, 2010 2:13 AM

Guest :

rekha nirghin
i have a 10 yr old and from december 2009 has lost lots of weight. she eats very little and when i talk to her about it she will brush of the subject.her friends at school are thin.i am over weight and always on a diet can this be affecting her. because i see if i don't eat she will not eat or if she eats it will be very little.can someone help me with this problem. email rekha@nirghins.co.za

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