Eating Disorders Information For Parents - Eating Disorders Treatment for Children

What can we do to help prevent eating disorders?

You may feel you want to protect your child from the hurt of being teased about their weight. Unfortunately, focusing on your child's body may do more harm than good. Your child may begin to value themselves solely on what they look like and feel they have to look a certain way to gain approval and acceptance. Try not to put much emphasis on what your child looks like. Instead, emphasize your child's inner qualities. Pay attention to the messages you send your child about appearance and weight. Do you constantly diet, and talk about "good foods" and "bad foods?" Do you make negative comments on your own body in front of your child? It may also help to discourage your daughter from reading lots of women's fashion magazines and from being exposed to other media that portray underweight women as being glamorous. Discuss media images of "ideal bodies" with your children. Teach your kids to be media literate, which will help protect them from harmful messages about food, eating, and body size from TV, music videos, magazines, and ads.

• Parents are key players in prevention—strategies for parents
• Build your child's self-image.

My child seems to have a very distorted view of how they look. What's going on?

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Your child may have Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). This means being wrapped up in their appearance way more than normal, and obsessing about real or imagined defects in how they look. It is a kind of distorted thinking. It affects males and females about equally. Find out more about BDD, including list of clues to BDD's presence, and books and articles about the disorder. If you suspect your child has BDD or body image problems, you should seek professional help. The Butler Hospital BDD and Body Image Program recommends getting an evaluation from a psychiatrist or licensed psychologist with expertise in treating BDD. If you can't find anyone with this expertise, then find someone with expertise in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), as OCD seems to be related to BDD.

What book should I read to help my child develop healthy eating habits?

How to Get Your Kid to Eat...But Not Too Much, by Ellyn Satter. This is a book all parents should read, whether their children have eating problems or not. It applies to kids from birth through the teen years. The advice in this book can help you help your child to develop a healthy relationship with food.

What are some other resources?

• The National Eating Disorders Association is the largest not-for-profit organization in the United States working to prevent eating disorders, eliminate body dissatisfaction, and provide treatment referrals to those suffering from anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder and those concerned with body image, eating and weight issues. Their Web site offers information about eating disorders and body image; referrals to treatment centers, doctors, therapists, and support groups; opportunities to get involved in prevention efforts; prevention programs for all ages; and educational materials. Call 1-206 382-3587 for more information. Call the Toll-Free Information and Referral HelpLine at 1-800-931-2237.
• The National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) is a Canadian organization that provides information and resources on eating disorders and weight preoccupation. Phone 416-340-4156.
• The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) has an international network of support groups, offers referrals to health care professionals, publishes a newsletter, and will mail information packets customized to individual needs upon request. They work to educate the public, promote research projects, and fight insurance discrimination and dangerous advertising. Their national hotline (847-831-3438) can give you a listing of support groups and referrals in your area.
• Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders (ANRED)has merged into NEDA, but maintains its own Web site, which provides lots of information about anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, compulsive exercising, and other less well-known food and weight disorders. Their Web information includes details about recovery and prevention.
• The Academy of Eating Disorders is an organization for professionals from all fields who deal with eating disorders. Phone 703-556-9222.
• The Nutrition Information Service is part of the University of Alabama-Birmingham, and provides up-to-date, accurate, and useful nutrition, health, and food information to the community and health care professionals. Call their toll-free nutrition hotline with your questions: 1-800-231-DIET (3438). Hours are 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday.
• The Council on Size and Weight Discrimination, Inc. provides information on eating disorders, "sizism," the non-dieting movement, and size discrimination. Phone: (914) 679-1209.
• The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance provides support and attempts to eliminate discrimination against fat people. Provides information to health professionals on how to treat very large patients (e.g., weighing). Phone: (916) 558-6880.

Sources:

[1] Patton GC, Selzer R, Coffey C, Carlin JB, Wolfe R. Onset of eating disorders: population based cohort over 3 years. BMJ.1999; 318 :765 -768

[2] Field AE, Austin SB, Taylor CB, Malspeis S, Rosner B, Rockett HR, Gillman MW, and Colditz GA. Relation Between Dieting and Weight Change Among Preadolescents and Adolescents. Pediatrics, Oct 2003; 112: 900-906.

Ed. Note: Article provided by University of Michigan Health System

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