| Eating disorders also called is Anorexia nervosa | | | | (absence of menstrual cycles) or delayed onset |
| and Bulimia. Eating disorders is important to | | | | of puberty and menarche. Parents may first |
| recognize that each factor plays a role in | | | | suspect a problem when they discover large |
| predisposing, precipitating, or perpetuating the | | | | amounts of food are missing from the pantry or |
| problem. Anorexia nervosa compulsive eating are | | | | the refrigerator, though it's hard to imagine one |
| the most common among such young children, | | | | child could have eaten so much. Mothers with |
| but there are cases of bulimia being reported. It is | | | | eating disorders may have a difficult time feeding |
| usually begins at the age of fourteen or fifteen, | | | | their infants and young children and will further |
| with another peak in incidence in eighteen year | | | | effect the child. Often the family environment will |
| olds. It is estimated that 40% of nine year olds | | | | be less cohesive, more conflicted, and less |
| have already dieted and we are beginning to see | | | | supportive. People with bulimia may be anywhere |
| four and five year olds expressing the need to | | | | from underweight, to normal weight, to |
| diet. It's a shame that children so young are being | | | | overweight. It is estimated that as much as 3% |
| robbed of their childhoods. Children raised in a | | | | of college-aged women have bulimia. Other signs |
| dysfunctional family are at a higher risk for | | | | found in teens with eating disorders include having |
| developing an eating disorder. In a home where | | | | dry and brittle hair, losing hair, and having muscle |
| physical or abuse is taking place, the child may | | | | wasting. |
| turn to an eating disorder to gain a sense of | | | | Treatment of eating disorders is slow and difficult |
| control. Children may also develop eating disorders | | | | (and sometimes requires hospitalization) and should |
| as a way of dealing with the many emotions that | | | | be overseen by a mental health. Exercise is also |
| they feel, especially if they are raised in a home | | | | an important part of everyone's life and we need |
| that does not allow feelings to be expressed. | | | | to help our children become involved in physical |
| Children who are compulsive eaters are usually | | | | activity. Patients with anorexia also require |
| using food to help them deal with feelings of | | | | nutritional and medical intervention to make |
| anger, sadness, hurt, loneliness, abandonment, fear | | | | dietary. Do not criticize your own or your child's |
| and pain. There are many serious complications of | | | | weight, shape or size. Different types of therapy |
| anorexia, including fainting from low blood | | | | can help treat binge eating disorder. For example, |
| pressure, electrolyte disorders, being intolerant to | | | | family therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy |
| cold, constipation, decreased energy, changes in | | | | teach people techniques to monitor and change |
| mood, anemia, kidney failure and osteoporosis | | | | their eating habits and the way they respond to |
| (brittle bones). | | | | stress. Family therapy includes the whole family in |
| Eating disorders can cause heart and kidney | | | | the process of helping the individual. |
| problems and even death. Genetic attributes and | | | | Cognitive-behavioral therapy combines the |
| it is more common in children who have a | | | | approach of helping the individual change their |
| first-degree relative with an eating disorder. | | | | self-defeating thoughts with changing their |
| Children are at a risk for developing an eating | | | | behavior. Counseling also helps patients look at |
| disorder if the parents themselves are to | | | | relationships they have with others and helps |
| preoccupied with appearance and weight. Eating | | | | them work on areas that cause them anxiety. |
| disorder risk factors is purging behaviors (vomiting | | | | Weight-control programs are helpful for some |
| or using diuretics (water pills) or laxatives to lose | | | | people affected by binge eating. The medical |
| weight). Restrictive eating patterns, which can lead | | | | treatment of bulimia has concentrated on |
| to a failure to gain weight or to being underweight | | | | antidepressants , particularly fluoxetine, which has |
| and can include skipping meals, fasting, or | | | | been found to decrease binge eating and vomiting |
| eliminating entire food groups. Amenorrhea | | | | for about two-thirds of bulimic patients. |