eating

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eating
What can I do to help? Eating disorders include: ROYAL

CHILDREN’S

HOSPITAL

You can help your child or adolescent develop Anorexia Nervosa where the adolescent

a positive attitude to his or her body in the has a fear of becoming fat and uses

following ways: inappropriate ways to keeping thin. The child

has an unrealistic view of his or her body.

· Be sensitive to your child’s feelings and

encourage your child to talk to you. Bulimia Nervosa where the adolescent is

Though your child may not wish to talk preoccupied with his or her weight. The









ROYAL CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE

about eating habits, it can still help to talk adolescent has bouts of binge eating and





eating

about other things. then compensates for this by vomiting,

dieting or using fluid tablets.

· Explain that attractive and happy people

come in different shapes and sizes. Binge eating in which loss of self control

causes the adolescent to over-eat. This may

· Talk about how the media unrealistically

portrays men and women. For example,

many pictures are artificially touched up

be to seek comfort or to cope with feelings of

depression, anxiety, guilt and anger. disorders

to improve appearance.

Who can I contact?

· Reassure your child about body changes If you are concerned about your adolescent, it

at puberty. may be useful to contact:



· Help your child to understand the signals • your general practitioner

the body gives about hunger, thirst, • a paediatrician

feeling full etc. • a psychologist

• your local community health centre.

· Allow your child to eat when hungry and

If you feel that your adolescent’s situation is

stop when full. Don’t make your child eat

urgent and you live in the Western

everything served up at meals. Metropolitan Region, you may consider

contacting:

· Encourage your child to do regular sport

and/or exercise to keep healthy and · The Royal Children’s Hospital

develop confidence in his or her body. Mental Health Service

Intake Service on 1800 44 55 11

· Set an appropriate example by eating between 9.00am – 5.00pm,

well and exercising sensibly yourself. Monday to Friday.





· Avoid using food as bribes, punishment

or rewards.

Eating disorders How do I know what to look for? Do eating disorders effect both

girls and boys?

Although some parents may have concerns Parents frequently ask how they can know if

about their children’s eating habits, it is not their adolescent has an eating disorder. It is more likely for girls to be affected by

common for young children to develop eating disorders. However, one in five

serious eating disorders. However, whilst The following warning signs can act as a adolescents with eating disorders are boys.

children are young it is important for them to guide:

develop a positive approach to food and

body image. This may help to prevent · an obsessive fear of putting on weight How can I look after myself?

serious problems with eating disorders in · denial of being hungry despite having

their adolescent years. eaten small amounts Caring for an adolescent with an eating

· a belief they are fat no matter how thin disorder can often lead to feelings that can be

Though the focus of an eating disorder is they are overwhelming, such as anger, guilt or sad-

often on food, an eating disorder may be a · avoidance of eating with the family or ness. These may be normal responses to the

sign that the adolescent has emotional or going to the bathroom straight after stress that you are experiencing. It is impor-

social difficulties. meals tant that you have enough support from family

· eating large amounts of food without and friends to help. It may also be helpful to

gaining weight find out about any support groups that you

· preoccupation with food and dieting could contact.

What can contribute to an eating · exercising excessively, eating

disorder? compulsively, hiding food or eating in By looking after yourself, you will be better

secret able to look after the special needs of your

The causes of eating disorders are not · misuse of laxatives, diuretics, appetite

known, but the following have commonly adolescent.

suppressants

been found in adolescents with these · wearing loose clothes that hide the body

disorders: Dealing with an adolescent who has an eating

· behaviour change, i.e. withdrawal, disorder can often have an effect on other

irritability or depression parts of your life. For example, it can put a

· Personality traits · girls who have begun to menstruate may

o low self esteem strain on your relationships with other family

miss or stop having periods. members. Counselling may be helpful in

o difficulties in expressing

feelings such as anger and working through some of these issues.

anxiety Sorting out these problems will also help your

If eating disorders continue for a long time, child.

o difficulties in being assertive adolescent’s health and growth may be

with others seriously affected. Early and effective

o being a perfectionist. treatment for eating disorders may prevent

serious problems later in life.

· Social factors

o a strong desire to please

family, including cultural

expectations

o media and advertising

creating images of “the

perfect body”

o major life crisis or changes.





Parents can help their children more than anyone else, which makes your contirbution very important.


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