The Future Of Health Previously, it was not customary to talk about eating disorders, but now, when people do not hesitate to talk about their problems related to eating habits, we realize that this type of disorder is extremely common. According to statistics, about 20% of people have experienced eating problems at least once in their lives. Moreover, they most often appear in childhood or adolescence.
In order to be ready to help their child in the event of an eating disorder, parents should be familiar with the types of disorders and signs of the problems in advance. Keep reading this article to break down myths and learn more about the eating disorders that children may encounter.
Popular Myths About Eating Disorders
The first thing all parents need to do is get rid of false beliefs about eating disorders. There are two major myths that can be devastating for people who face such problems:
- Eating disorders are real diseases that are characterized not only by physical changes but also mental problems. If you understand that your child is faced with such a problem, it is necessary to provide them with the necessary psychological help;
- Food problems do not always entail dramatic weight loss. Often, a child can maintain their normal weight, but at the same time limit themselves in nutrition or maintain eating habits, but later get rid of calories by vomiting.
Types of Eating Disorders
The next topic that all parents should be familiar with in order to help their children in a timely manner is the types of eating disorders.
- Bulimia is an eating disorder in which a child can eat in the usual amounts, but they might cause vomiting after meals;
- Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder is a disease that differs from other eating disorders, as it is associated not with the conscious consumption of a small number of calories, but with the refusal to eat due to problems with the digestive system or dislike of the taste or texture of certain foods;
- Binge eating disorder is associated with uncontrolled overeating when a child eats too much. It is important to note that since people with such a disorder do not seek to get rid of the food they have eaten, you may notice that the child is gaining weight;
- Anorexia is a disorder in which people do not want to consume food and refuse it due to the fear of gaining weight. At the same time, they do not always have to be extremely thin.
How to Detect an Eating Disorder
In order to track the occurrence of the above eating disorders in your child’s life, pay attention to:
- Changing eating habits;
- The child’s attitude to their body and weight;
- Exhaustion by hard training.