Parents are talking about ways to help their daughters who struggle with body image and eating disorders.
When it comes to the notion of beauty in popular media, there is an unhealthy focus on being stickly thin. The idea is that women have to be skinny in order to look pretty…
No wonder 90% of people who have eating disorders are women.
Eating disorders usually start when kids are in their teens, but may begin as early as 8 years old. So don’t wait until it’s too late to get your kids the help they may need.
The 2 main eating disorders are anorexia nervosa (or, popularly anorexia) and bulimia.
Anorexics: Those who are anorexic are obsessed with being thin. They may starve themselves, take diet or water pills, or exercise excessively.
Bulimics: Those who are bulimic binge – they eat a lot of food at once then purge by throwing up or taking laxatives. Bulimics have more or less “normal” weight, but their weight may fluctuate based on binging and purging activity.
The causes are endless, but it could be from stress or the pressue to look thin.
Here’s when you should be suspicious that your teens have an eating disorder…
- Concern about body weight
- Obsession with calories and fat grams in food
- Use of diet pills, laxatives, or water pills
- Throwing up after eating
- Refusing to eat
- Fainting
- Excessive exercising
- Calluses or scars on knuckles (from forced throwing up)
As a parent, you can start by reassuring your kids that they look beautiful even if they aren’t stickly thin, because they are beautiful.
Seek help if your kids actually do have an eating disorder – there are experts on this matter who can help your kids get back on the right track.
Talk to your child, teen, or tween’s pediatrician immediately if you see the above warning signs. School counselors can help too.
Do your kids have an eating disorder? You can share your stories anonymously below.
Eating Disorders: Facts For Teens [Family Doctor]
