Eating Disorders
Definitons:
Anorexia Nervosa
A. Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for
age and height.
B. Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight
C. Disturbance in the way in which one’s body weight or shape is experienced
(DSM-IV, 1987).
Bulimia Nervosa
A. Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is
characterized by both of the following:
1. Eating, in a discreet period of time, an amount of food that is definitely
larger than most people would eat during a similar period of time.
2. A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode.
B. Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behavior (purging) in order to
prevent weight gain such as self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives
C. The binge eating and purging both occur on the average, at least 2x a week for
3 months
D. Self-Evaluation is unduly influenced by body weight and shape (DSM-IV,
1987).
Binge Eating Disorder
A. Continues to binge eat over time (eating more food all at once than most
people would eat in the same setting
B. Feels a lack of control during binge eating
C. Eats fast during binges
D. Overeats to a point of discomfort
E. Eats much when not hungry
F. Feels shame and embarrassment over behavior (Fairburn, 1995)
Warning Signs or Red Flags of Eating Disorders (University of Michigan Health
System, 2012, Family Goes Strong, 2012)
Eating tiny portions or refusing to eat
Makes excuses to skip meals, when they do eat they often play with
their food
Demonstrates an unhealthy focus on the amount they weigh
Becomes angry or upset when confronted by the change in weight or
food intake
Drastic change in diet
Intense fear of being fat
Distorted body image
Strenuous exercise for long periods of time
Hoarding and hiding food
Eating in secret
Disappearing after eating—often to the bathroom
Large changes in weight, either losing or gaining
Social withdrawal
Depression
Irritability
Hiding weight loss by wearing bulky clothes
Little concern over weight loss
For females… menstrual irregularities
Dizziness
Feeling cold all the time
Dry skin
Puffy face
Facts about Eating Disorders
In today’s society we are seeing more and more children under the age
of 12 developing eating disorders. The Causes foe these eating
disorders are varied. Most significantly, biological, familial, social and
societal factors contribute to the development of eating disorders.
Anorexia nervosa and binge eating are the most common among
children and adolescents.
Anorexia is increasingly being diagnosed in more males as a result of
the mixes messages that boys and males are getting about what
constitutes a healthy diet and a properly developed body.
One study estimates that 30-40% of 9 year olds have already dieted or
have talked with their friend about the physical appearance of their
bodies.
At times, it feels as if children are being robbed of their childhoods and
are not able to focus on just being a child and enjoying playful existence.
A child or adolescent who struggles with an eating disorder or
disordered eating patterns often has poor self-esteem and has lost their
ability to express their feelings...
They are often feeling lost, unloved or unworthy of love from family or
friends. In addition, children often say they do not feel they can talk to
their parents or are not connected to others in their lives.
They learn to use their symptoms to substitute for their emotional
expression and do not feel that adults in their lives understand their
struggles.
Offering Hope to be Proactive in helping our Children (Cytrynbaum,
2012)
As parents we are blessed to be able to give our children unconditional
love.
Children are sponges and we have the opportunity to model positive
behavior and instill a healthy sense of self to bring with them
throughout their life journey.
If children are going to grow up and love their bodies they must be
raised to love and accept everything about themselves. Encourage
children to find positive aspects about their bodies!!!
This requires parents to:
Be encouraging, supportive and help to build their self-esteem,
children need to know that you are proud of them.
Children need to know that you love them for who they are, not what
they look like on the outside. This can be as simple as recognizing
positive internal qualities as well as outwardly looking beautiful.
Recognizing our own relationship with food and the impact on how our
children view food.
Being aware of comments about our own appearance and weight.
Children learn what is modeled to them through their parents.
Set a good example in your own healthy eating patterns
Try and have as many meal times together as a family and use the time
together to talk about healthy combinations of food for our bodies.
Encourage your children to listen carefully to their bodies when they
are hungry and full.
Try to not monitor your child’s eating. This could present a power
struggle which may encourage a child to feel they need more control.
Encourage children to become involved with physical activity. Maybe
even exercise together with your children. Make it a fun family
activity!!!!
Try and use words like healthy and not healthy instead of fat or good
and bad foods.
Encourage children to realize that food creates energy for their bodies.
Food is not good or bad or a treat when you are sad. This perspective
helps children realize that food is not a way to cope with emotions.
We need to remember that at times it is difficult for a child to grow up
with a strong self-esteem in today’s society as a result of all the outside
environmental influences.
We as parents have the opportunity to instill in our children the gift to
believe in themselves.
If a child can love and accept who they are, they are less likely to strive
to attain society’s definition of the “ideal “body image and will grow to
love and accept their bodies no matter what size they are.
We need to remember that at times it is difficult for a child to grow up
with a strong self-esteem in today’s society as a result of all the outside
environmental influences.
We as parents have the opportunity to instill in our children the gift to
believe in themselves.
If a child can love and accept who they are, they are less likely to strive
to attain society’s definition of the “ideal “body image and will grow to
love and accept their bodies no matter what size they are.
VERY IMPORTANT: Parents need to encourage children to express
their feelings and emotions and take the time to LISTEN to what
our children are telling us.
References for Parents
The Eating Disorder Sourcebook. By Carolyn Costin (1997).
Life without Ed. By Jenni Schaefer (2004).
Goodbye ed, hello me. By Jenni Schaefer (2009).
Telling Ed No! By Cheryl Kerrigan (2011)
8 Keys to Recovery from an Eating Disorder. By Carolyn Costin &
Gwen Schubert (2012)