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Eating disorders in children and teenagers can occur just as they do in adults. In fact, it is not unheard of for children as young as six to develop difficulties with food because they feel they are fat and do not fit the 'ideal' body shape.
What parents should do
Parents are ideally placed to help ensure their child does not get an eating disorder by teaching them good healthy eating habits and being good role models.
It is thought that eating meals regularly together as a family may help to prevent the onset of eating disorders in children and adolescents. Unfortunately in today’s fast-paced society this is often the exception rather than the rule.
By eating together parents can ensure their child is eating proper meals. Everyone should try to eat the same food while engaging in constructive, encouraging conversation during mealtimes. Children can learn to enjoy mealtimes and view them as a positive experience.
Involving children in the food preparation process is also a good idea. Not only will they learn the useful skill of cooking, if they feel proud of what they have made they will be proud to eat it.
Mums and dads should make positive comments about the way their child looks and openly celebrate the fact he or she is growing up and becoming an adult.
Parents should support their children in all aspects of their lives and encourage them to believe in themselves. This will help boost their self-esteem.
Far too many children get little or no exercise. Some children spend most, if not all of their school-free time watching television or playing computer games, often eating unhealthy snacks while doing so.
Physical activity should be an integral part of everyday life. Being physically active helps to boost self-esteem, improve body image, develop strong bones and muscles and maintain a healthy, acceptable weight.
Parents can encourage their child to get more exercise by organising enjoyable, family orientated activities. Going for walks, bike rides, playing ball, swimming and roller-skating are just some examples of activities that children enjoy.
If children participate in these types of activities regularly it will help them to have good attitudes towards exercise that they will take with them into adulthood.
What parents should not do
It is important that parents try not to show dieting behaviours in front of their child.
Parents who are preoccupied with their weight, constantly dieting, calorie counting and worrying about the way they look may pass on the message to their child that they too need to engage in these behaviours to be accepted.
Children are like sponges and they absorb everything that is said to them, and parents need to be careful what they say in front of their child.
Parents should not criticise their own weight or body shape, or other peoples, and they definitely should not make negative comments about their child's size or shape.
One throwaway comment about puppy fat, such as ‘you have a bit of a belly’, or about food, such as ‘you’ll get fat eating all those sweets’ can sometimes be all it takes for a child to become concerned about the way they look and convinced they need to engage in dieting behaviours.
These types of comments can mean a lot more to the person they are aimed at than is intended.
Look out for the early signs of problem eating behaviours
Teachers, and other adults who work with children can watch out for the early signs a child is developing problems with food. Some behaviours and attitudes to watch out for are:
- Exercising 2-3 times per day, every day
- Reluctance to eat out or with other people
- Wearing baggy clothes
- Concern about body weight and body shape
- Hiding / throwing away food
- Withdrawal from social activities
- Depression, irritability and inability to sleep
- Eating very slowly and pushing food around on the plate