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 childs 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 adolescents situation is
stop when full. Dont 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 Childrens 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 childrens 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 adolescents 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.