A woman recently wrote into CNNs Expert Q&A column, asking about eating disorders in small children. CNNs Living Well Expert, Dr. Jennifer Shu, provided a response that included the following information:

[Sari Fine Shepphird, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and author of "100 Questions and Answers about Anorexia Nervosa"] reports that although the majority of new cases of anorexia are diagnosed between the ages of 13 and 18, about 10 percent of patients with eating disorders show an onset of their symptoms before age 10, and eating disorders have been reported in children as young as 5.

Recent studies show that it is increasingly common for young children to be on a diet and to express a fear of gaining weight and that even young kids may engage in unhealthy and potentially harmful diet behaviors.

While an otherwise healthy child's "picky eating" is likely just a phase that will go away, there are many signs that can signal a potential concern. These include the unhealthy behaviors listed above as well as unexpected changes in weight, a preoccupation with one's weight and "feeling fat," hoarding food and persistent refusal of all but a few types of food.

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A group of Canadian pediatricians will take part in a national study aimed at better understanding eating disorders in the very young.

"The survey by the Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program is the first ever attempt to measure rates of bulimia nervosa in children aged five to 18," reported the Harbor City Star. "The study is driven in part by a recent trend noticed by doctors to see eating disorders appear at earlier ages among children."

In Toronto, hospital researchers have been surprised to find symptoms of bulimia in children younger than 12, an age which was previously believed to be the limit for how early eating disorders can develop.

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According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, more than 60 percent of elementary and middle school teachers say eating disorders are a problem in their schools.

The average age for the onset of anorexia is now between 9- and 12-years-old; it used to be between 13- and 17-years old.

Chicago Tribune writer Heidi Stevens addressed this issue:

If you sense a body image problem [in your child], [clinical psychologist Brian] Alman recommends initiating a conversation – don't wait for your child to bring it up. And start positive. "Talk about what’s right about your child," he says.

"What's right about your body, what's right about your ways of dealing with friends, school. That way the kid feels loved and accepted.'"

Alman also advised being open and honest with your children about past struggles you had with body image or peer pressure to look a certain way, Stevens reported. Sharing your own experiences can help your children feel more comfortable sharing theirs, he said.

Labels: body image, children, peer pressure

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Young people who are exposed to a wide variety of media may be at increased risk for health issues such as eating disorders, drug use, and early sexual activity.

On average, American children and teens spend more than six hours a day with media such as TV, computers, Internet, video games and VCR or DVD players -- more time than they spend per day receiving formal classroom instruction, says Dr. Victor C. Strasburger of the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque. (Source: HealthDay News)

Dr. Strasburger urged parents to monitor their kids' access to media, and to supervise both what and how much they view. Computers, television sets, video games, and Internet connections should not be allowed in kids' bedrooms, he said, and children's access to electronic entertainment should be limited to two hours per day.

Labels: media_influences, children, parents

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As the prevalence of eating disorders rises among even very young girls, parents sometimes feel helpless, fearing there is nothing they can do. And while eating disorders are triggered by a combination of things, there are steps parents can take to protect their children:

Throw out your scale and stop weighing yourself. Your child sees everything you do and seeing you weigh yourself has a significant impact on her perception of weight and body& Talk about foods with regard to how they can nourish her body, rather than their effects on her weight. Focus on health, not on calories, fats, or carbohydrates.(Source: PRWeb)

Remember to encourage physical activity for the sake of health, not weight control. The more a parent puts a positive focus on physical health, the less likely a child will be to risk that health.

Labels: eating disorders, children, parents, prevention

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The Royal Children's Hospital in Victoria, Australia has so many new anorexia cases - amid a decrease in funding - that it's been forced to close its doors to new patients. Admissions among 10- to 13-year-olds alone have increased from three in 2003 to 43 last year.

"State Government funding has not increased to meet demand and despite pleas for help the hospital, which does not have the staff to deal with so many cases, has been forced to reduce its eating disorder beds from twelve to six, and limit new admissions."

The hospital recently admitted a 13-year-old girl who was so sick that she went immediately to intensive care. Exacerbating the situation is a lack of outpatient resources such as counseling. Read more at TheAge.com.

Luckily, here in the US, we have private residential treatment centers, like Island View in Utah, which can help children with a variety of emotional and behavioral issues. Visit www.islandview-rtc.com for more information.

Labels: treatment, children, hospitals

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During National Eating Disorders Awareness Week couple in February, a new novel about eating disorders went on sale. A Slice of Heaven was written by Sherryl Wood who, fortunately, has never suffered with an eating disorder, but learned to appreciate the complexities of eating disorders after speaking with specialists at The Childrens' Hospital in Denver.

"'This is not a problem to be ignored or wished away,' Woods said, 'especially with younger and younger girls developing self-image issues and resolving them with extreme eating behaviors such as anorexia or bulimia.'"

Go online to read more about Wood's book and visit the National Eating Disorders Awareness website for more information on symptoms, warning signs, consequences and treatment options.

Labels: awareness, self-image_issues, children

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Eating disorders often go undiagnosed in special needs children. Unusual eating patterns are often attributed to some other diagnoses.

"If you feel that your child has experienced unusual weight loss or weight gain, please consult the family doctor or pediatrician. If you are advised to 'wait and see' whether the change continues and still feel uneasy about your child's weight, consider a second opinion."

There are many reasons why the eating habits of a special needs child could change. Though parents shouldn't become alarmed, they should take note of the change and try to determine its cause. Read more at BellaOnline.com.

Labels: diagnosis, children, special_needs_kids

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"Dance Dance Revolution," a video game that makes children jump and dance, is going to be used as exercise in every West Virginia school. The game's manufacturer, Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., has agreed to help schools attain the game after a study showed it benefitted overweight children.

Reseachers working with West Virginia University and the West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency tested the game on overweight children. The children played the game in their homes for a half hour a day for 24 weeks. The majority improved aerobic capacity, blood vessel function, and overall fitness levels. Some of the children even lost weight.

Labels: children, exercise

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A father's attitudes and comments are important factors in whether his daughter will develop bulimia and other eating disorders, a new study by Stanford University shows.

If a father is overly critical of his little girl's weight or if he himself is trying to lose weight, his daughter is more likely to develop an eating disorder in adolescence. The research also indicated that both parents could raise their daughter's risk by being overly controlling about what she eats, putting pressure on her to be thin, and placing too much emphasis on weight control.

A research team led by Dr. W. Stewart Agras followed 134 boys and girls from birth to age 11. Parents filled out annual questionnaires about their children's eating habits and weights.

One key finding was that concerns about being thin could start as early as third grade. This study appeared in the February 2007 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Labels: support, children, parents

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