Important Facts About Eating Disorders
Diagnosing an eating disorder can be one of the most challenging issues a parent faces. According to empoweredparents.com, children who have eating disorders often will be of normal weight, and often appear to be in perfect health. Eating disorders are not caused by bad parenting, but feelings of guilt still occur, and can make it even more challenging to address an eating disorder within the family. Patients with eating disorders are characterized as being preoccupied with weight and having a deep seated fear of becoming fat. However, erratic or inadequate eating habits are more likely the result of excesses, lack of regulation and a lack of control in other areas of life.
Both girls and boys can have eating disorders, but it is a more common condition among females. One out of four preteens with anorexia is a boy. The three most common types of eating disorder are anorexia, bulimia and over binge eating disorder. All of these disorders manifest in different ways. Anorexics will often have an intense fear of being fat and have a distorted view of their body, including denial that they are underweight and a desire to continue to lose weight. Bulimics will often binge eat to the point of discomfort and have feelings of guilt after eating. Additionally, purging often occurs in the form of self induced vomiting, excessive fasting or exercising and the abuse of diet pills or laxatives. Binge eating disorder is similar to bulimia, except that it usually lacks the purging phase. Binge eating is the most common of the three, and it is estimated that 40 percent of obese people suffer from binge eating.
Eating disorders are not usually directly about food. Anorexia, as well as bulimia and compulsive overeating are diseases that have chemical, genetic, emotional, behavioral and social implications for the afflicted individual as well as for the family. The warped relationship with food often develops as a means of exerting control. Where a patient with an eating disorder may feel that they have no control over anything, they have the illusion that they are in control of their appetite and their appearance.
Helping a child with an eating disorder can be a long process, but it is necessary to address eating disorders because they can be seriously damaging to one’s health, even fatal. A hands-off approach may seem to be effective, but “let the problem work itself out” isn’t the right action to take with an eating disorder. However, parents need to resist the urge to instill positive thoughts about body image, as any reinforcement directed towards body image may only heighten the child’s sensitivity. Instead, parents need to be calm and caring, and show that they care about the child’s issue. Many children who suffer from eating disorders feel an intense loss of control or that their life doesn’t matter. Initial denial is common, so several attempts may need to be made in order to connect with the child. One of the most effective ways to deal with an eating disorder is to redirect a child’s focus. Any positive output, be it horseback riding, drawing or singing, will help to take a child’s mind off of their body image. The M D Davis Foundation offers a workshop on creativity that can help children to alter their focus away from their own self image. The workshop features small groups that help to nurture creativity. A child who recognizes that their own creativity is a gift can put that creativity into positive use.
Prevention of an eating disorder is much the same as treating an eating disorder, and the two may go hand in hand. Once again it is important not to place any stress on appearance, instead focus on inner qualities of your child, or things that they excel at. Also, make sure that you are being a good role model. Try not to stress good food or bad food, and don’t make negative comments about yourself in front of children, as these actions will further stress an importance on appearance and weight.
For more information, including further links to diagnosing, preventing and treating an eating disorder, please visit the following links:
http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/eatdis.htm
