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:: HEALTH MENU |
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:: HEALTH REALTED SITES |
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| :: HEALTH FEATURES |
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:: Can Early Eating Problems Predict an Eating Disorder? ::
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When you think of eating disorders, you probably think of teenagers and young adults, but many eating problems begin earlier in childhood. Today, even some elementary school children feel dissatisfied with their bodies and develop what are called dysfunctional eating habits that can turn into full-blown eating disorders as they grow up.
"If a child is already invested in having a particular body type when they are in elementary school, then we think they are at risk for the development of an eating disorder," says Linda Smolak, PhD, a professor of psychology at Kenyon College in Ohio who has studied eating problems in young children.
Under-, Over- and Picky Eaters
Eating problems in younger children can take many forms, including irregular eating patterns, consistent overeating and consistent under-eating. Some children might start eating a mostly junk food diet, eating only one particular food or avoiding certain foods.
Certain kids may develop eating problems because they are anxious or depressed or because they have developed a phobia about food or eating. In these cases, the eating problem may resolve if the underlying issue is identified and treated by a mental health professional. In other cases, media images of skinny women and lean, muscular men, as well as comments from parents and peers, can focus both girls and boys on their body shape in an unhealthy way.
While it might be obvious that your child has a problem if he or she only wants to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, parents may need to look for clues that their child does not have a healthy approach to eating.
"Usually a child is just going to steadily gain weight through the developmental period because he or she is growing," Dr. Smolak says. "If your child is losing weight and you don't have a good explanation for it, look into it because kids can get good at looking like they are eating." Dr. Smolak says that kids might avoid eating by pushing food around on their plate, skipping their after-school snack or refusing to participate in activities that involve food.
Some kids with eating problems won't be losing weight, however, because they are eating, but they are not eating healthy foods at regular intervals. Marilyn Tanner, MHS, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, says that she has observed overweight younger children "who avoid eating all day because they don't want to eat in front of the other kids, then they come home and they're starving and they eat everything in sight." After binging on chips, soda and candy after school, these kids are often not hungry for dinner, so they miss out on healthy meals.
Look for Body Blocks
Certain children might reveal their preoccupation with body image in ways that don't directly relate to food, such as by refusing to participate in activities that require they wear shorts or a bathing suit or always wearing a T-shirt over their bathing suit. Other kids at risk might engage in excessive exercising that takes away from everyday childhood activities. Older elementary school children may talk about feeling fat.
It's critical to recognize eating problems in children because an unhealthy diet in these formative years can lead, in serious cases, to growth stunting and gastrointestinal problems. Even kids with milder eating issues can end up feeling tired and listless because they are not getting the energy they need from food. Also, social problems can develop, Dr. Smolak says, "when kids are worrying about how fat or thin they are instead of doing what they should be doing like playing with their friends."
Power Up the Positive
If parents suspect their child has an eating problem, they should take them to a health professional, such as primary care doctor, a mental health professional or a dietitian. Children with more serious problems might benefit from an eating disorders clinic, which parents can get referral to through their doctor or through the Eating Disorders Association.
But parents themselves can also play a major role in helping reshape their child's attitude toward food and their eating habits, research confirms. A study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders in 2000 looked at body dissatisfaction and dieting in 62 third- through sixth-grade boys and girls and found that 50 percent of these children wanted to weigh less and 16 percent said that they had tried to lose weight. Seventy-seven percent of the children said they had heard about dieting from a family member, usually a parent.
Tanner cautions that because children mimic their parents' eating habits, parents on a low-carb diet, for example, have to be sure they are not teaching their children that breads and grains are "bad" foods.
Parents should also be aware of what comes out of their mouth, as well as what goes into it. "Parents need to avoid commenting on their child's body shape and weight like saying 'These jeans make you look thinner,'" Dr. Smolak says. "Parents should be trying to say things that get their children focused on being healthy by encouraging exercise and eating vegetables and fruits."
Parents have the power to exert a positive influence by modeling eating healthy habits. For the parents of younger children who are picky eaters, Tanner recommends modifying the family meal—which should include lots of fruits and vegetables—so it better meets the child's taste rather than serving them the chicken nuggets or a grilled cheese sandwich they may be insisting on. She also advises setting limits on junk food. Making such changes can be challenging and consulting with a dietitian can help parents avoid turning food into a battleground.
"The whole family has to get healthy, so the changes have to apply to everyone," Tanner explains. "Make it about eating healthy, not about the weight." |
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