Archive for the ‘Eating Disorders in Children’ Category

When an eating disorder in children affects your life, what do you do? Do you know how to help them. You may think your child or children don’t have eating disorders, it may surprise you to know that many children do suffer from eating disorders and just because you are a good parent doesn’t mean that your child won’t be one of them.

All parents have attitudes to eating that their children learn from. Children also learn from their peers at school. We all know how cruel children can be, they will make negative comments when there is nothing negative to comment about. You may not be able to control the reactions of their peers but you can certainly control your own reactions. Your reactions are probably the ones that influence your children the most. If you find yourself constantly saying ‘I can’t eat this because…’ then your children will respond to those messages. And you may be surprised what messages they receive… certainly not what you meant by it.

Children as young as four years old have been known to suffer from anorexia because their parents attitude to food caused them to stop eating. Parents often make the mistake of thinking it is a phase their child is going through because of food likes or dislikes or because they want their own way. This is often the case but in some cases it has been discovered that children are thinking ‘if I eat I will get fat then nobody will love me’. It’s sad but unfortunately true.

Maybe you or one of their peers are secret eaters, hiding treats for only you to eat. Sure, it may seem harmless, as parents we don’t have much to ourselves. So it is tempting to put something aside for yourself. I remember when my daughter decided she liked chocolate turkish delight. Previously, that was my treat as no-one else liked it. Suddenly I had to share it with her often she wouldn’t leave me any… it was sooooo unfair! It may shock you to know that quite frequently your children know you do that. What is worse is that they may have started doing it themselves.

The problem is that children take it to excess. They will sneak chocolates or sweets and hide the wrappers. Over time, this habit can increase but they manage to keep these addictions secret.

The same applies to binge eating when children see family and peers gorge themselves on food. Many individuals binge eat without realizing it and this is becoming a major issue in children also. It seems that many people are no longer capable of portion control. They just eat and eat until they feel so bloated that they feel ill.

The majority of obese individuals are addicted to high energy, high calorie foods. It’s important to remember that we should consume all things in moderation. But children are being fed large amounts of fats and sugar and they are becoming addicted to them. The problem is, if we stop providing them these high energy foods they may suffer withdrawal symptoms from not eating them. It doesn’t take them long to realize that a chocolate bar solves the craving. Of course, thought it solves the short term craving, it opens the door to significant potential future problems.

As parents we should endeavor to be aware of the habits our children have in relation to food and eating or not eating. We need to know if they have received the wrong messages from our attitudes or their peers attitude to food. We need to ensure any issues are dealt with before they spiral out of control. And most of all we need to be willing to seek professional medical advice at the first sign of an eating disorder in children.

Are you concerned about negative body image and eating disorders in teenagers? Do you suspect that your teen has stopped eating because they perceive themselves as overweight? Do they talk about diets or teenage diet plans or other ways to lose weight? Are you finding food hidden in their closet? Be aware! All of these things can be a sign that there is an issue with body image and eating disorders. It may not be a passing phase. Your teen could potentially be heading for some serious health issues. This post was created to help you understand how you can help them.

Check out this post about How to help your child develop a healthy body image.

If your teen does need to lose weight you should keep in mind that many teenage diet plans are potentially dangerous to their health. Especially if they are the ones controlling it without understanding necessary nutritional requirements. Due to this danger you should encourage your teen to consult the family doctor before going on a diet. Most doctors will resist putting teenagers on a diet plan since it is frequently unnecessary. Quite often, the teen is not overweight at all, but they are taking the comments of peers and the unrealistic role models presented by the media of celebrities to heart. If your teen does require a diet plan it’s important to do it properly with medical advice.

Teens are deeply influenced by peer pressure, and it can have an extremely negative effect on their body image of themself. Many perfectly healthy teens obsess about weight issues that don’t exist. This can lead to them taking radical measures to change themselves… including starving themselves.

The best teenage diet plan will incorporate both exercise and all the nutrients required to build strong bones and maintain good physical health. If your teen requires a diet plan, talk to a medical professional, either a doctor, dietician or nutritionist. These people can help you and your teenager create a healthy teenage diet plan.

Teenagers commonly do carry a little extra weight. Most of them lose it as they mature. It is important that your teen understand both this, and the fact that everyone is different and should not be the same. There are many body shapes and types and your teen needs to be familiar with this.

If their best friend weighs 105 lbs doesn’t mean they should be that weight, it may not even be healthy or attractive for them to be that weight. There are several factors that contribute toward a healthy weight range including; height, bone size, body shape and family history.

For those who are concerned about body image and eating disorders, a good teenage diet plan will include very few junk foods or none at all. While these foods include some beneficial nutrients, they also have loads of empty calories and fat. Overindulging in junk food at any age increases the risk of weight related diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Conversely, their diet should also include plenty of fruit and vegetables. These are low in fat and provide plenty of nutrients for healthy, growing bodies. Encourage your teenager to pack healthy snacks like fruit, nuts and vegetables for school etc. Having healthy snacks on hand reduces the temptation to purchase junk food when they get hungry.

Another essential element of a good teenage diet plan is exercise. Frequently, exercise is all that’s needed. When your teenager exercises regularly they build lean muscle and lean muscle burns more calories than other types of tissue.

A healthy teenage diet plan contains lean meats. Keep them away from large portions of red meat because it is high in fat and is harder to digest. Encourage them to eat more skinless chicken and fish as these are lower in fat and will help them lose weight.

If you teen does need to lose weight then encourage them to drink low fat milk as it contains less fat than whole milk and still provides the necessary calcium to build strong bones. They should also replace soda drinks with water, the same if they drink a lot of fruit juice as these are high in sugar and can contribute to weight gain. If they don’t like drinking water explain that it helps flush toxins out of the body and will therefore help clear their skin and reduce the severity of acne. This alone is enough to change the attitude of most teenagers to drinking water.

Once again, never place your teenager on a diet yourself and watch for signs that they are trying to lose weight themselves. See your doctor if you are concerned about your teenagers body image and eating disorders.

One of the most common causes of obesity and being overweight in children is what food experts refer to as binge eating disorder or BED. This disorder is very risky for growing children since it can cause other health problems as they arrive in their adolescent years. Obesity can potentially cause major heart problems as well as high blood pressure and cancer. You definitely don’t want to expose your kids to these health issues. Therefore, it is very necessary for parents with overweight or obese children to seek medical advice and look for a treatment for binge eating disorder as soon as possible.

Aside from health issues, binge eating disorder also causes emotional problems such as the development of low self-esteem, withdrawal from society and embarrassment to interact with the public because of the disorder. Finding a treatment for binge eating disorder is crucial when it comes to saving your growing kids from the harmful effects of the eating disorder.

There have been debates about the most effective way of treating the binge eating disorder. Some of the options for treatment for binge eating disorder include dealing with the weight loss issue or making necessary changes to the child’s behavior through intensive counseling. Due to health complications caused by obesity many experts prefer patients lose weight as soon as possible. However, because of the emotional factor involved in binge eating this can be a very difficult task. Therefore, most experts tend to use psychosocial treatment for binge eating disorder with the use of counseling and therapy procedures.

Some of the notable therapies that are suitable for children with binge eating disorder include cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy (counseling). Cognitive behavioral therapy promotes a return to healthy eating habits for your child. This also includes the necessary adjustments to self-image, body shape and weight that cause the disorder. On the other hand, dialectical behavior therapy allows your child to participate in group counseling and voice their thoughts and concerns through an open forum. Lastly, interpersonal psychotherapy effectively corrects the relationships that induce the worsening of the eating disorder.

All of these therapies are effective in alleviating the effects of binge eating disorder. However, since binge eating disorder has many potential risks to child’s health and interaction with the society, it is highly recommended to seek the help of professionals to address the emotional issues involved in acquiring the disorder.

Being aware of the signs of eating disorder is very important when you have growing children in your household. The health concerns involved in improper nutrition are very alarming. Aside from the possible physical difficulties that obesity may cause, too much dieting can be just as adverse to your family’s health. With the trend of society to favor thin as beautiful, many teenagers and adults have been struggling to keep up on having the slim body figure. Although this can help them look good but the health effects of the strict diet practices can be very harmful to the body.

The person responsible for keeping the family healthy should be knowledgeable about the signs of eating disorder that may occur. One of the most common eating disorder of teenagers is anorexia nervosa (fear of gaining weight that leads to starvation). Aside from the excessively thin body caused by anorexia, the long-term effects of being anorexic can be very dangerous to health. On the other hand, compulsive overeating, also known as bulimia nervosa can result in sufferers inducing vomiting to get rid of what is perceived as ‘excess’ calories. Another way a bulimic person can achieve this effect is by abusing laxatives to cause food to pass through the body too fast to be fully digested. Emotional issues resulting from negative body image cause most eating disorders. Therefore, treatment must include both psychological and physical factors.

The attitudes of society towards body shape cause the guilt and anxiety that lead to most common eating disorders. Individuals with signs of eating disorder usually separate themselves from other people, especially their family and friends. If you suspect your adolescent is suffering from one of these disorders, don’t delay seeking medical advice, as these conditions can be life threatening to the sufferer.

Although there are many factors that can be signs of eating disorder, some symptoms are not obvious. Unexplained fluctuation of body weight may be noticeable but abnormalities in eating habits may be overlooked, as sufferers become expert at hiding their activities. Possible signs of eating disorder include obsessive concern about weight and body shape and obsessively exercising. Irritability and depression are also common symptoms. Other signs to watch for are teens and preteens who insist on eating in their room (they may be hiding food in school bags for future disposal, or tipping it out the window into bushes) and those who are consistently in the toilet soon after eating.

Physical signs of eating disorder

• Fluctuation of weight/size (could be caused by dieting, illness or stress… all of which should be monitored)
• Erratic menstruation in females (periods ceasing or suddenly being erratically timed)
• Dizziness and fainting
• Constant tiredness
• Moodiness
• Sudden cold sensitivity
• Depression or anxiety

Behavioural signs of eating disorder

• Obsession with physical appearance and weight
• Overeating and/or excessive dieting
• Becoming emotionally withdrawn from family and friends
• Sudden interest in food preparation for others
• Obsessing over ‘good’ and ‘bad’ foods
• Compulsive behavior (only eating from certain plates, refusing to eat certain foods on certain days)
• Sudden change in clothing style
• Excessive or fluctuating exercise patterns
• Trying to avoid social situations involving food
• Always making excuses not to eat (have to study, feeling sick or whatever)
• Eating tiny mouthfuls, eating really slowly
• Gorging on food, eating too fast
• Storing large amounts of food in schoolbag/wardrobe.
• ‘Playing’ with food (Rearranging it on plate)
• Inexplicable disappearance of large amounts of food
• Midnight snacking, food wrappers in bins
• Feeling ‘out of control’ with food
• Using the bathroom soon after meals

If you suspect that your child is suffering from an eating disorder, be careful when you confront them about it. Don’t be too harsh on them since this may be counter productive and cause further emotional problems. The best way to deal with an eating disorder is with the help of a professional. Hiring a counselor can be a great help to attend the problem and prevent the disorder from being out of control.

Many people have bad experiences in their childhood including with eating habits. Some parents allow their children to eat anything they like simply because it’s easier than trying to encourage healthy eating habits. Often, parents are so busy that a fast meal of pizza or fish fingers and oven baked fries is easier than preparing a traditional meal of meat and three vegetables. Consequently, many children will experience the side effects of these unhealthy practices with the occurrence of health problems long into their adult years.

As parents, we are responsible to feed our kids and protect them from developing eating disorders as much as we possibly can. Healthy eating habits should be established during childhood to help them adapt easily to strict health diets.Unfortunately, children and teenagers are more likely than adults to develop eating disorders such as bulimia, anorexia nervosa, compulsive eating disorder and binge eating disorder. The reason for this is because children have neither the maturity nor the knowledge to understand what is and isn’t a healthy body image. Combine these factors with the fact that children and teenagers are overly sensitive to the opinions of their peers and you have a volatile mix of negative issues that can really mess with your child’s head. This is why it is crucial for us as parents to develop healthy eating habits and a healthy, realistic body image in our children.

Many health problems in young children are related to their eating habits. However, even if you provide them the proper food groups in their meals, they can still develop eating disorders if the issue of body image is not addressed. Children frequently have no interest in eating fruits and vegetables. In these days of fast foods and even faster lifestyles, it is only natural that children would show a preference for junk foods that are high in fats and sugars. Therefore, the responsibility to convince and motivate them to practice a healthy lifestyle depends on how you implement the dietary foods they need. You may want to follow these tips about how to help your child maintain a healthy body on their own.

Firstly, teaching your children when to eat is very important in controlling their diet. Most eating disorders in children are the results of miscommunication between the child and the parent about the right amount and type of meal to be served. Be considerate in providing food that your children love to eat but keep in control about the type and amount they are allowed to eat. By doing this, you can balance their diet without forcing them to follow a low fat diet. You should also discuss with them the side effects of not practicing healthy eating habits (including obesity). Allowing them to control their eating habits on their own can be a good start in helping them adapt a healthy lifestyle.

Moreover, do not use rewards and punishments in motivating them to eat healthy foods. Instead educate them about the health benefits of the food they eat and be constructive on how to approach them. Instead of forcing them to eat well, you can say that they can feel much better if they eat the right foods. Most eating disorders in children are significantly affected by their emotions. Therefore, you should always use a positive approach on fulfilling your children’s needs especially about choosing what they should eat and what they should not.

Compulsive overeating can be very difficult to address, especially when a child has difficulty in coping with changes in the daily eating habit. This can be a major problem for children since they are more active and are therefore more prone to becoming hungry compared to adults. Although you can find a compulsive eating disorder treatment nowadays, it is still best to prevent the main causes of this behavior before such treatment becomes necessary.

Finding a compulsive eating disorder treatment may require you to analyze the major causes of this condition. According to experts in behavior of children, most children experiencing this eating disorder have an emotional dependency on the food they like to eat. Emotional eating is a potential threat to your child’s health since it can make it impossible to follow a healthy diet and cause obesity. Although this can be a very serious health problem, this can still be treated by compulsive eating disorder treatment. It is very important to make the necessary steps to correct your child’s eating habits as soon as possible to prevent further problems that may arise when they reach their teenage years. Aside from health problems, the discrimination of society toward obese people is a serious emotional concern for your child if not addressed. Forcing kids to undergo compulsive eating disorder treatment by identifying the main source of the problem may not be easy when the case is crucial to the health of the child. However, you can implement other activities to reduce the tendency to overeat.

You may want to consider the following tips to help alleviate compulsive eating. Firstly, having a regular five-minute walk can help your children keep away from thinking about eating all the time. This involves distracting the child from thoughts of food and can be very helpful in battling food cravings as well as the impulse of the body to reach for the food available on the refrigerator. Moreover, introducing your child to have a phone friend can also help them control their eating habits. Having someone to talk to your children can reduce their attention to food cravings during free time.

Another method is to substitute healthy foods where they would usually be eating cakes, biscuits, chips and muesli bars. This reduces both calorie and fat intake as well as providing nutritional elements that are crucial to children’s growth.

Lastly, putting smaller meals on their plate or lunch boxes can help them have a limit on their food intake. (The substitution method works well here as well). Although this may seem a little too much for your child to bear, this can be very effective in helping them reduce their calorie intake and the same time, significantly remove their tendency to eat more.