If you are worried that one of your loved ones, especially your daughter, may be suffering from an eating disorder, do not ignore it. These disorders can be treated when diagnosed, but they can also be extremely dangerous when left untreated.
Definition
An eating disorder is marked by extremes. It is present when a person experiences severe disturbances in eating behaviour, such as extreme reduction of food intake or extreme overeating, or feelings of extreme distress or concern about body weight or shape.
Eating disorders are so common that 1 or 2 out of every 100 children will struggle with one, most commonly anorexia or bulimia. Unfortunately, many children and teens successfully hide eating disorders from their families for months or even years. While more common among girls, eating disorders can affect boys too.
Treatment
Children (particularly teens) are concerned about how they look and they feel self-conscious about their bodies. This can be especially true when they are going through puberty, and undergo dramatic physical changes and face new social pressures. Generally, eating disorders involve self-critical, negative thoughts and feelings about body weight and food.
It is important to remember that eating disorders can easily get out of hand and are difficult habits to break. They are serious clinical problems that require professional treatment by doctors, therapists and nutritionists.
Anorexia
People suffering from anorexia have an extreme fear of weight gain and a distorted view of their body size and shape. As a result, they strive to maintain a very low body weight. Some restrict their food intake by dieting, fasting or excessive exercise. They hardly eat at all and, when they do, they often try to eat food with as few kilojoules as possible. The small amount of food they do eat becomes an obsession.
Many people suffering from anorexia also have coexisting psychiatric and physical illnesses, which can include depression, anxiety, obsessive behaviour, substance abuse, cardiovascular and neurological complications, and impaired physical development.
Bulimia
Bulimia is characterised by habitual binge eating and purging. Someone suffering from bulimia may undergo weight fluctuations, but rarely experiences the low weight associated with anorexia. Both disorders can involve compulsive exercise or other forms of purging food they have eaten, for example by self-induced vomiting or laxative use.
Unlike anorexia, people suffering from bulimia can fall within the normal range for their age and weight but, like people suffering from anorexia, they often fear gaining weight, want to lose weight desperately and are intensely unhappy with their body size and shape. Bulimic behaviour is usually done secretly, because it is often accompanied by feelings of disgust or shame.
Binge-eating disorder
Binge-eating disorder is characterised by recurrent binge-eating episodes during which a person looses control over his or her eating. Unlike in bulimia, purging, excessive exercise or fasting does not follow binge-eating episodes. As a result, people with binge-eating disorder are often overweight or obese. They also experience guilt, shame and/or distress about the binge eating, which can lead to more binge eating.
Prevention and care
Parents can help prevent their children from developing an eating disorder by nurturing their self-esteem and by encouraging healthy attitudes about nutrition and appearance. Also, if you are worried that your child may be developing an eating disorder, it’s important to intervene and seek proper medical care. This is also important if there is any family history of eating disorders.