| The astronomic rise in the number of | | | | development of eating disorders in |
| children suffering from eating disorders | | | | children. Children often see their |
| is very disturbing. According to recent | | | | parents as their idols, their heroes, |
| studies, approximately 40% of today's | | | | their role models. So what would the |
| children aged nine have already tried | | | | children think if their parents are |
| dieting to various extents. If you find | | | | preoccupied with their own bodies and |
| this disquieting enough, what would you | | | | their weights? When the parents express |
| feel if I told you that researchers also | | | | apparent dislike towards their bodies, |
| found out that there is a rising trend | | | | the children will perceive that weight |
| of children ranging from four to five | | | | and appearance are very important. |
| years old expressing their need to diet? | | | | In some cases, the parents might |
| Why are our children feeling this way? | | | | mistakenly take baby fat as actual fat |
| Why do they express the need to diet? | | | | and force a child to diet. This can be |
| What are we doing wrong? | | | | a form of robbing a child of his or her |
| Research has pointed out several | | | | childhood and can be considered an |
| factors, which may have contributed to | | | | extremely cruel act. |
| this ever-increasing trend of eating | | | | In other families, a double standard is |
| disorders in children. Among those | | | | imposed allowing boys to eat to their |
| worthy of mention are emotional or | | | | hearts' content while limiting the food |
| psychological trauma, family and the | | | | intake of girls. This is so that boys |
| media. | | | | can have well-built and muscular bodies |
| Events that result in emotional or | | | | (a must for the macho society) while the |
| psychological trauma predispose a child | | | | girls maintain a slender figure (again a |
| to develop eating disorders. It was | | | | dictate of the society). Most mothers |
| noted that children who were brought up | | | | even take a step further and lecture |
| in dysfunctional families were more | | | | their daughters how important it is to |
| prone to acquire the disease than those | | | | have a thin figure for them to find |
| children raised in loving environments | | | | happiness and a man that will love them |
| were. This is also true in cases where | | | | when they grow up. |
| children are raised in environments | | | | The media also helps spread the notion |
| where feelings are not allowed to be | | | | that being thin is a central factor for |
| expressed. In both settings, children's | | | | success and happiness. Along with |
| emotions are bottled up prompting them | | | | promoting the newest in kids' fashion |
| to turn to food for comfort or to help | | | | comes the media's endorsement of the |
| them deal with what they are feeling. | | | | "ideal figure". Media makes the kids |
| They might latch on to food and eating | | | | want to wear the newest designer |
| to release their pent up anger, | | | | clothes, be adorned with the latest |
| frustration, sadness, hurt, fear, | | | | accessories and look "perfect" wearing |
| feeling of abandonment and pain. | | | | them. As a result, the children strive |
| Children who were victims of emotional | | | | to achieve the society's idea of a |
| or physical abuse are also at high risk | | | | "perfect figure" and this sets the stage |
| of developing the disease. They might | | | | for the development of the disease. |
| try to relieve their feelings and try to | | | | Eating disorders can be very disastrous, |
| gain control of an otherwise | | | | even more so for the young bodies of our |
| unmanageable situation by resorting to | | | | children. Let us not push them towards |
| food and controlling their eating | | | | the hands of these harmful evil. Let us |
| habits. They might try to avoid food in | | | | teach our children to accept and love |
| an effort to control their weight so | | | | themselves by loving them |
| that they might "disappear" and not go | | | | unconditionally, whatever size or shape |
| through the abuse anymore. | | | | they might be. |
| Family also plays a crucial role in the | | | | |