Does your child's relationship with food concern you? Here is some practical information on eating disorders in young people.
A very real problem
Eating disorders are among the most common mental he alth problems in adolescents (according to a study by Gonzalez, Kohn, & Clarke, 2007). A German study shows that around 50% of girls and 30% of boys aged 11 to 15 think they are too fat (HBSC Germany). According to the National Eating Disorder Information Centre, approximately one in three Canadian women between the ages of 12 and 18 exhibit disordered eating behaviors.
Causes
The causes of negative body image and eating disorders are individual, family, environmental and social in nature. There is no single cause. As a parent, it is impossible to control all of these factors! The best way to prevent and intervene is to first act as a role model for your child.
Be a role model
You are already a model for many things in your child's life: politeness, order, hygiene, etc. Food and a positive perceptionof his body are no exception! A first challenge is to show your child how to have a regular and varied diet. A child's attitude to food may be different if he sees his parents skipping meals, or if he hears that there are foods that are unhe althy.
Labelling foods as forbidden can send the message that there is a right way and a wrong way to eat. The child could then be at risk of feeling guilty when eating certain foods. The goal, of course, is moderation. A he althy diet involves regular food intake, a variety of foods, in short, a good balance.
Projecting a positive body image model is done in a more subtle way. The child who sees their parent loving their body as it is, no matter what the media, their peers or even their toys may lead them to believe, will understand that there are many definitions of beauty. Conversely, a child who hears their parent criticizing their own body will understand that it is okay to dislike them or that thinness is the goal.
Signs it's not okay
Despite your best efforts, your child may show some signs of unhe althy eating or an eating disorder.
Here are some signs that your child has feeding concerns:
- He avoids eating with the rest of the family. He asks byexample to eat in his room or he mentions that he is no longer hungry for the meal.
- He is showing changes in his eating habits. He regards certain foods as forbidden, he counts the calories of the foods he eats, he asks too much about the nutritional information of foods.
- He has a poor perception of his body image, for example he thinks he is overweight when he is not.
- He doesn't see his friends as often as he used to. He avoids social outings like restaurants or other activities where food is involved.
- He shows mood changes: he may be more sad, angry, withdrawn than before. He may also have low self-esteem.
Anorexia, bulimia and binge eating are the most common eating disorders. All three diagnoses involve major body image concerns and disordered eating behaviors. Here are some characteristics associated with each disorder:
Anorexia
- Body image distortion
- Significant weight loss due to severe dietary restrictions, compensatory measures such as excessive physical exercise, vomiting, taking laxatives, etc.
- Intense fear of gaining weight
Bulimia
- Significant body image dissatisfaction and concerns
- Presence of dietary restrictions andfood compulsions. The compulsions are often followed by compensatory measures (eg excessive physical exercise, vomiting, taking laxatives, etc.).
Overeating
- Significant body image dissatisfaction and concerns
- Presence of food restrictions and compulsions without compensatory measures.
Specialized resources
Eating disorders don't have a single cause and sometimes being a positive role model just isn't enough. So if your child exhibits disordered eating behaviors or even an eating disorder, it's not your fault. Offer your child specialized resources to help him. Although you want to help your child, if he has an eating disorder, talking to him about eating could make him uncomfortable, make him feel like he is being watched and create anxiety. Once he finds help, don't let the topic of food take over your relationship.
What you can do to help your child with an eating disorder:
- Avoid the subject of food: do not talk about the nutritional values of food, try to avoid commenting on its portions or those of others at the table.
- Eat at the family table: avoid eating in front of the television or everyone in separate rooms.
- Don't comment on your weight, hisor that of others in front of your child.
- Hide the scale if you have one at home.
The earlier an eating disorder is treated, the better the chances of remission. There are various resources that can help a young person with an eating disorder. Do not hesitate to inquire on the following links:
