So far in our eating-disorder prevention series we’ve focused on stopping eating disorders before they begin (primary prevention). But even if you put all the protective factors in place — fostering a healthy body image, having regular family meals and declaring a diet-free household — there’s still a chance your child will develop an eating disorder.
According to Sari Shepphird PhD, eating disorder specialist and author of 100 Questions & Answers About Anorexia Nervosa
“Parents can prevent a certain amount of disordered eating,” says Laura Collins author of Eating with Your Anorexic: How My Child Recovered Through Family-Based Treatment and Yours Can Too.
This is where “secondary prevention” comes in. It focuses on the early identification of an eating disorder – to treat this disease before it gets out of control. Shepphird explains that when caught early, persons suffering from eating disorders have the best chance of full recovery.
So with that in mind, here are three tell-tale signs that can help you catch an eating disorder early. (more…)
Thank you for this helpful and optimistic information. So good to give parents tools and concrete help! I appreociate the work you are doing!
Thanks Laura. I appreciate your contribution to the article and all that you are doing to increase eating disorder awareness.
Hello Maryann
Interesting and informative article. It seems to be a behavioral problem to me. Are there any biological reasons which trigger these eating disorders? Based on the age of kids diagnosed with eating disorders in your examples, it seems like the problem starts at around puberty or in the early teens. I wonder if there is a connection between hormonal changes, along with pressures from the environment, and eating disorders in kids at this age.
Hi TwinToddlersDad. No one knows exactly what causes eating disorders but they are a combination of behavioral, genetic, psychological (low self esteem), interpersonal, social and biological factors. Here’s a good summary from the National Eating Disorders Association http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/nedaDir/files/documents/handouts/WhatCaus.pdf
There is a lot parents can do to help their child or teen who develops an eating disorder. With early intervention and family-based treatment (sometimes called the Maudsley approach) there is every reason to be hopeful. http://vimeo.com/1734296
TwinToddlersDad,
You might want to look at this site for info on the neurobiological aspects of eating disorders–interesting stuff! http://health.ucsd.edu/specialties/psych/eatingdisorders/neurobiology/
What I’d like to know is how to approach another mother with my concerns that her daughter aged 12 may be developing an eating disorder….. knowing that the mother concerned may be offended by my saying anything about it.
The girl concerned has voiced certain attitudes such as… “I used to eat heaps but now I hardly eat anything because it makes me feel sick if I overeat” “I like cheese burgers but I don’t want to get fat so I don’t eat much.”
Nina,
I would talk to a specialist in eating disorders about this because I’m not really sure what you should do. They deal with this all the time and can provide better guidance. It’s nice that you are concerned and hopefully things will turn around for your friend and her daughter.
My daughter is 12 we caught her self harming and got her with a counselor ASAP and now it appears she has an ED of some kind. She has improved quite a bit the past 3 months with attitude etc; however my wife thinks she is purginging and hiding ED. My daughter Denys it to us and her therapist, I am torn about this to believe it or not. She continues at the therapist weekly and we are escalating with monthly blood work and are considering adding a psychiatrist as well. I want to catch her in the act to prove she is or is not lying about it. We have emphasized that this is a deadly condition that you don’t just get over and shared tragic stories etc. So how do I catch her in the act? She has not lied to me before and I want to believe her….
Is she seeing a dietitian? That would be important. I would work with the health professionals to get resolution.
Not yet but we are going to get blood samples monthly to monitor her health
I appreciate how you mentioned that significant weight loss is one of the first signs of an eating disorder. My friend is worried that her 14-year-old daughter has developed a severe eating disorder because she has inexplicably lost weight and doesn’t have the energy she used to. I’m sure that if the problem worsens, she’d benefit from finding an eating disorder treatment center so her daughter can get the necessary care to get back to a healthy weight. Thanks for the information.