Eating Disorders in Children

By Staff Writer

Eating disorders affect how a person eats and represents their relationship with food and can range from mild to severe conditions. They are treatable mental and physical diseases that can affect anyone. However, when an eating disorder develops in a child, parents want to do all they can to protect and help them. 

What Causes Eating Disorders

Researchers are not sure about the causes of eating disorders, but they know some of the risk factors that increase the risks of having one. 

1. Eating disorders may be inherited, which means that if a child’s parent, sibling, or other relative struggles with an eating disorder, they are 7-12 times more likely to develop one of the disorders in their lives. 
2. Children diagnosed with chronic conditions are also more vulnerable to eating disorders. 
3. Children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus are, particularly at risk. 
4. Children who suffer from depression, anxiety, or other mental illnesses are also at risk.
5. Body image issues such as weight, appearance, or peer pressure 
6. Participation in certain sports or hobbies where weight may be an issue, e.g., ballet, gymnastics, wrestling

Types of Eating Disorders?

1. Anorexia – Eat minimal amounts of food. 
2. Bulimia – Overeat, then purge or force vomit afterward 
3. Binging – Eat excessive amounts of food even if not hungry
4. Avoidant or Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) -Do not eat certain foods because of the look, color, texture, smell, etc.

Signs and Symptoms

• Excuses not to eat regular meals or the usual foods prepared by parents
• Preferring to eat alone
• Overly frequent bathroom trips, especially after meals
• Dieting that is highly restrictive of food choices or highly specialized with foods eaten
• Tiredness, fatigue, weakness, headaches, or stomach complaints
• Anxiety or stress about weight, clothing, looks, socializing 

Treatment

There are several factors to consider in addressing eating disorders. First, having a healthy weight is vital for the child’s physical, nutritional, emotional, and mental well-being. Second, family-based intervention and treatment are often the first and best options. 

Your doctor will develop an individual plan to treat your child’s specific needs in most cases. It will include help from a dietitian or nutritionist and a therapist. We cannot separate the mental and emotional aspects of eating disorders cannot be separated from physical characteristics. It may even warrant medication to treat and manage the child’s mental health during recovery. The severity of your child’s condition will dictate the level of intervention necessary to get your child back on a healthy track. In the worst cases, hospitalization to monitor and improve the child’s condition may become critical.

What can Parents do to Help their Children?

1. Pay close attention to your child’s eating pattern. Look for any signs not typical in their attitude to food and eating habits.
2. Delay is dangerous. If you are worried about what your child is eating or not eating, fluctuation, or weight changes, consult the pediatrician or family doctor. It’s better to be wrong than excusing or delaying treatment for what could develop into a life-threatening condition.
3. Keep lines of communication open and non-judgmental with your child. Please encourage them to talk to you and express their feelings freely without censure or pressure. 
4. Make sure that you model a healthy relationship with food as a parent.