Instill healthy habits in your children to prevent eating disorders

Prevention outreach concerning eating disorders (ED) is needed in today’s schools, community and in family life. Although the problem of ED has been documented through the centuries, it has primarily emerged over the past 30 years in highly developed countries.

In recent years, it has been seen in epidemic proportions. It is considered an equal opportunity affliction, meaning the problem cuts across all members of society, regardless of income, education, occupation, social class and age.

As diverse as who it hits, it also can be mixed with diverse behaviors and comorbidity problems. ED is very complex to treat because it includes biological, psychological and sociological factors. ED can be debilitating physiologically and emotionally, and can be life-threatening.

The most effective way to reduce the problem is to educate those who are at risk and those who work with at-risk young people, through preventative measures.

As a parent, close attention to attitudes toward weight and body size, food obsessions and excessive dieting should be noted. The preteen years—especially in girls—are the critical years for problems surfacing, and instilling healthy habits concerning food, weight and exercise.

Do

Do educate yourself about eating disorders

It is important to understand the four main categories of eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa (AN) is characterized by an obsessive fear of gaining weight and an unrealistic perception of high body weight. Anorexia often causes amenorrhea in women, leads to bone loss and greatly increases the risk of heart-related problems. Out of all the eating disorders, AN has the greatest mortality rate.

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is characterized by recurrent binge eating followed by a compensatory behavior, such as vomiting after eating, excessive exercise or excessive use of laxatives/diuretics.

Binge eating disorder (BED) is characterized by binge eating at least 2 to 3 times a week, without compensatory behavior. This type of ED is more common than either BN or AN. Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED) are EDs that do not meet full DSM-5 criteria for AN, BN or BED. Obesity is not an ED in itself, although it is often found in the BED.

ED is most often found with other comorbid disorders. Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is commonly found in people with an ED, which is characterized by a distortion in body image. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders, mood disorders and personality disorders are also common. Personality disorders, which are often comorbid with ED, are obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, avoidant personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder and borderline personality disorder. Alcoholism and substance abuse problems often develop in an attempt to self-medicate the ED problem.

Be sure to educate yourself on these eating disorders—as well as on nutrition and exercise—before you direct or answer questions of your child. Talk with professionals in the field and ask questions if you do not understand something. Always stress health, exercise and proper nutrition as being most important in life, and remember to downplay body size and weight. Find out what available resources you have, as well as what kind of local prevention programs are available to you in the community and school system.

Do offer unconditional love and emotional availability

Although there is never any one specific event or situation that brings on an ED, research has shown that early childhood trauma, abuse or neglect are often the cause. Periods of excessive and/or ongoing stress in adulthood can also bring it on. And biological and genetic factors also can predispose a person to develop an ED. Ongoing unconditional love and emotional availability are essential to offer a child as a prevention tool, whether it is before a problem arises or after the fact.

Do listen closely, have daily discussions and respond cautiously

Discussion of proper eating behavior, nutrition, exercise and body image should begin early on and needs to be continuous and on a daily basis. Question what your child is saying if you do not understand. Be very cautious of what you say and how you word things. A few wrong words or insinuations can lay dormant in the subconscious for years, causing pathologies to later surface.

Do be a positive role model for proper eating, exercise and self-care

Children model what they see much more than what they hear. Don’t be hypocritical and tell kids one thing, but actually do another. Model the message that you take good care of yourself and you deserve to be healthy. Proper self-care will increase self-esteem and confidence in yourself and in your child. Do not deny yourself proper self-care.

Do keep the discussion at an age-appropriate level for understanding

Make sure to keep the conversation age-appropriate. You are not going to discuss the details of how your body metabolizes protein to a 10-year-old, but teaching the general importance of protein in food and what foods are rich in protein is appropriate. If you are unsure about what is appropriate to discuss with your child, contact your local school system to find someone who is knowledgeable about eating disorders. The local school psychologist or municipal social worker can be of great support.

Don't

Do not allow yourself or your child to get caught on the dieting roller coaster

Never let your children see you obsessing over your own weight or body size. And never put your appearance, weight or body size down in front of your children. Research has shown that children who are put on the dieting roller coaster early in life are much more susceptible to developing eating problems in adolescence. Resist restricting certain foods and stress the importance of knowing what hunger and satiety is. Help your child distinguish the difference. Focus on health and proper exercise rather than calorie restriction.

Do not buy into the media and marketing game of beauty

Put the least stress as possible on body size being equated to beauty. Focus on health and instilling self-esteem. If kids feel pride and confidence in their accomplishments and ability, they are less likely to fall for playing the media’s beauty game.

Do not tolerate teasing, name-calling or ridicule, of oneself or others

Understand the local school system’s programs on tolerance and bullying. Intervene or report the abuse to an authority figure if you witness it. Name-calling and teasing early in childhood can lead to a lifetime of problems in self-esteem, confidence and feelings of worthlessness.

Science estimates that most brain activity and behavior takes place on a subconscious level. Many estimates are 90 to 95 percent, which means that only a very small portion of behavior is performed on a conscious level. Internal beliefs of oneself, trust or distrust of the world and personal self-worth are developed very early in life.

Do not use weight as a reward or punishment

Be cautious of associating reward or punishment practices with weight loss or weight gain. Often weight gain will encourage a lack of self-care with those struggling with ED. Some common examples are turning down social invites because of weight or denying nice clothes to wear if weight is up. This kind of thinking, along with negative verbal remarks about oneself, are red flags for future problems.

Do not make unnecessary comments on weight, body types, beauty or shape

Never make negative comments to judge a person on weight, size, and/or beauty. Focus should be on health, inner beauty, intelligence and spiritual development. Positive self-confidence will naturally follow within a well-rounded and well-developed child.