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Eating Disorders in Children

Even Kids Are Suffering From Anorexia and Bulimia

Jun 11, 2007

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The rate of young people being treated and hospitalized is increasing

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

Comments

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.

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