for eating disorders in kids under the age of 12. Other
research suggests that 5% to 10% of all
eating disorders occur in boys. “We still see kids that
are the stereotype— teenage girls who come from more affluent, educated
backgrounds,” Rosen says. “But now we’re seeing boys, kids of color, and kids
as young as 8, 9, and 10 who are showing up with very serious
anorexia nervosa.” As early as 1991, studies noted a
shift in kids’ thinking.
Researchers
reported that 42% of first- to third-grade girls polled wanted to be thinner,
and 81% of 10-year-old girls were afraid of being fat.
Some children with eating disorders may not look
underweight, Rosen explains, because they started eating disordered behaviors when they weighed more or
their behavior hasn’t directly resulted in weight loss. But his study points
out that failure to grow and gain is a problem for developing children;they should gain weight on a consistent basis.
Weighing 15% less than one’s ideal body weight (relative
to height) is generally the measurable criterion for anorexia nervosa. However,
Rosen’s study indicates that children who don’t meet this markercan still be in trouble because they experience fear of
eating, perhaps fear of gaining weight, andconcerns about their body—issues that loom large in a
little person’s mind.
“Some kids are concerned about choking, and others fear
they are overweight,” says Rosen. “Somekids get very hung up on the fat content of food because
their grandpa had a heart attack and somewhere they picked up the information
that heart attacks are caused by eating too much fat and having bad
cholesterol. There are a lot of different issues.”
According to Rosen, some kids may process messages about
obesity in ways that adults hadn’t anticipated. He encourages parents who suspect a problem
to have their children screened by a pediatrician and possibly assessed by a psychologist,
adding that sometimes a disorder can be hard for family members to identify in young children.
Experts agree that elementary school-aged kids may not be
able to verbalize many of their feelings, but indications of sadness and worry
could be red flags regarding an eating disorder.
Naturally, parents wonder if they are partly to blame.
“The top question I get from parents is,
‘What did I do wrong?’” says Johanna S. Kandel, founder
of The Alliance for Eating Disorders
Awareness and author of Life Beyond Your Eating
Disorder: Reclaim Yourself, Regain Your Health, Recover for Good.
“Eating disorders are like a perfect storm where so many factors
come together.
“Letting go of everything you think you know about eating
disorders is a good first step to gaining understanding,” says Kandel, who believes strongly in
research linking a genetic predisposition to anorexia and bulimia. “I always
say genes load the gun, and the environment and situation pull the trigger, so parents shouldn’t blame themselves but instead
realize they can have a tremendous positive influence by encouraging healthy
eating at home.”
There is power in parents modeling healthy attitudes
toward food, she explains, noting that it helps to refrain from using food as a reward and to avoid
classifying foods as good or bad. It’s also helpful to encourage a relaxed attitude at mealtime instead of
engaging in a power struggle with a child.
“There are many ways to treat eating disorders in
children, and not all treatment methods are equally effective,” says Sarah K. Ravin, PhD, a psychologist who
specializes in treating children struggling with eating disorders. “Research
shows that family-based treatment, also known as the Maudsley Method, is the
most effective type of treatment for children under 18 who suffer from anorexia
or bulimia.” Ravin says it’s also helpful for parents to arm themselves with
accurate, up-to-date information.
“I recommend a nonprofit organization called FEAST
[Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment for Eating Disorders
— Michele Deppe
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