Children and Eating Disorders - Part 2
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Anorexia and Bulimia used to be thought of as a teenage disorder, not any more. Children as young as 4 years old are developing the deadly disorder. There may be a neurological component that predisposes some girls to an eating disorder, but research to date indicates that the vast majority of children who develop eating disorders have done so as a defense against an emotional dilemma.
There are several similarities in family dynamics of children who develop serious issues involving food. For most children it is a combination of beginning to feel badly about their body and feeling as if they don't have control over any aspects of their life other than food and weight.
"A recent study (Davison, Earnest, Birch; Participation in Aesthetic sports; International Journal of Eating Disorders April 2002 pgs. 315-316) demonstrates that in comparison to girls who participated in non-aesthetic sports or no sports, girls who participated in aesthetic sports reported higher weight concerns at ages 5 and 7 and girls who participated in aesthetic sports at ages 5 and 7 reported the greatest concern about their weight."
Children who are in several after school activities that focus on their bodies (ballet, Karate, soccer etc.)can become worried that their body isn't good enough, or that they aren't as thin or as athletic as another person on the team. This combined with a family dynamic that focus on weight or the weight of others is a set up for an eating disorder.
Girls who have mothers who are frequently dieting, talking about their weight, or the child's weight are setting their daughters up for at minimal a distorted body image. If the family tolerates negative remarks about others who are heavy or if the child is compared to others physically, the child is being molded perfectly for an eating disorder.
A family that is filled with chaos such as a having a parent with an alcohol or drug addiction is creating a home in which the child feels little or no control over their life. In these situations it is not uncommon for a child to learn that the only thing they can control is their food intake. This can lead to everything from anorexia to obesity.
Take care to be a healthy example to your children by conducting yourself in a way that shows that you feel good about yourself and that you have no bias against people who are heavy. Your good example will go a long way to helping your child develop a healthy outlook toward themselves and others.
There are several similarities in family dynamics of children who develop serious issues involving food. For most children it is a combination of beginning to feel badly about their body and feeling as if they don't have control over any aspects of their life other than food and weight.
"A recent study (Davison, Earnest, Birch; Participation in Aesthetic sports; International Journal of Eating Disorders April 2002 pgs. 315-316) demonstrates that in comparison to girls who participated in non-aesthetic sports or no sports, girls who participated in aesthetic sports reported higher weight concerns at ages 5 and 7 and girls who participated in aesthetic sports at ages 5 and 7 reported the greatest concern about their weight."
Children who are in several after school activities that focus on their bodies (ballet, Karate, soccer etc.)can become worried that their body isn't good enough, or that they aren't as thin or as athletic as another person on the team. This combined with a family dynamic that focus on weight or the weight of others is a set up for an eating disorder.
Girls who have mothers who are frequently dieting, talking about their weight, or the child's weight are setting their daughters up for at minimal a distorted body image. If the family tolerates negative remarks about others who are heavy or if the child is compared to others physically, the child is being molded perfectly for an eating disorder.
A family that is filled with chaos such as a having a parent with an alcohol or drug addiction is creating a home in which the child feels little or no control over their life. In these situations it is not uncommon for a child to learn that the only thing they can control is their food intake. This can lead to everything from anorexia to obesity.
Take care to be a healthy example to your children by conducting yourself in a way that shows that you feel good about yourself and that you have no bias against people who are heavy. Your good example will go a long way to helping your child develop a healthy outlook toward themselves and others.
Labels: children, eating disorder, family, kids, parenting, pica, self esteem