How To Spot Disordered Eating in Your Child
When hearing about disordered eating or eating disorders most of the time teens or young adults come to mind, but many young kids develop it too. Recently the rates of eating disorders in children under 12 years old have increased. Spotting disordered eating in your child is crucial because children are in the midst of growing and it can be detrimental to their health.
There are several reasons why your child might have developed disordered eating. One reason may be genetics. If you or another relative has ever been diagnosed with an eating disorder, your child is 7-12 times more likely to develop one than a child who does not. Also, children diagnosed with chronic illnesses like diabetes or celiac disease are at a higher risk. Children who struggle with depression, anxiety, or any other mental illness may also be at an increased risk. It may be helpful to be more attentive to your child when one of these factors comes into play.
Disordered eating looks different in every child. Spotting disordered eating in children can be difficult. A lot of the time it can go unnoticed for long periods of time because your child might not want anyone to know. They might try to be secretive and cover up the signs or symptoms. Becoming aware of the signs and symptoms of disordered eating is essential for parents and the first step in helping your child recover.
Early prevention is vital but can be hard to detect. One early indication is if your child starts commenting on their body or weight. This can be in the form of negative self-talk or comparing themselves to others. It’s very common for this to start in their pre-teens especially once they become introduced to social media. Another early sign is if their eating patterns have noticeably changed. There may be a shift in their meal choices like wanting to eat healthier or cutting out certain food groups. They may become more obsessed with diet culture and weight loss around this time too. It’s common for them to want to avoid eating in front of others. They might try to skip out on family dinners and eat alone in their room.
Another indicator that your child may have disordered eating tendencies is if they start to excessively exercise. They may be exercising more frequently or intensely to the point where it becomes unusual. If the case is more severe, your child may be more prone to injuries from overuse.
Some smaller signs that easily can go unnoticed are if your child suddenly develops a fear of stomach aches, or aversions to certain textures or tastes. Other psychological symptoms that could be attributed to disordered eating is low self-esteem, intense mood swings, and getting stressed around mealtime.
However, there are not only behavioral and psychological symptoms of disordered eating. After some time, physical symptoms can develop too. These include sudden weight changes whether that’s weight gain or weight loss, always feeling cold or exhausted, constant stomach pains, and feelings of dizziness.
Whether your child is only experiencing a few of these signs or the majority of them, it is beneficial to act on your instincts quickly before the symptoms get more severe. There are several steps you can take as a parent to get your child the help they need. For example, having regular family dinners, encouraging activities that aren’t food related, and modeling good food-related behaviors. As a parent, you play the biggest role in your child’s life and can be very helpful in the recovery process. Have a conversation with them. Ask them if they are OK and would like to talk about what is going on. Let them know that you are there for them and that you want to support them. Avoid talking about food and body shape/weight because it can be a sensitive topic for them and may be triggering.
If your child hasn’t shown signs of improvement after taking these steps, seek professional help. Your child needs all the support they can get to help them in recovery. Reaching out to your child’s healthcare providers, will allow them to receive the best treatment plan.
References
Ekern, B. (2018, October 31). Signs my child is developing an eating disorder. Eating Disorder Hope. Retrieved from https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/blog/signs-child-developing-eating-disorder
Group, P. (n.d.). How to tell if your child has an eating disorder. Priory. Retrieved from https://www.priorygroup.com/blog/how-to-tell-if-your-child-has-an-eating-disorder
Smith, K. (2021, September 10). Eating disorders in children 12 and under: Learn the warning signs - PSYCOM. Psycom.net. Retrieved from https://www.psycom.net/eating-disorders-in-children
When your child shows signs of an eating disorder. Saint Luke's Health System. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.saintlukeskc.org/health-library/when-your-child-shows-signs-eating-disorder