1. Lead by example—if a parent is always on a diet, it will affect the children
2. Provide healthy meals and snacks for your kids
3. Encourage activities that will keep children physically fit
4. Compliment your children regularly
5. Avoid placing an emphasis on people's weight, instead talk about being healthy
6. Never tell your child she/he is fat or ugly.
7. Limit exposure to negative media
8. Encourage communication with your kids—studies show that children that have healthy relationships with their parents tend to have better self-esteem and a more positive body image
9. Help your children see that beauty comes in all color, shapes, and sizes and that everyone can be attractive
10. If you begin to notice any signs of disordered eating, seek help
Showing posts with label eating disorders. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eating disorders. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Types of Eating Disorders
Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder in which the child thinks she/he is fat and thus restricts eating to just a few hundred calories a day. These children have a fear of gaining weight, a very distorted body image, and often will sneak or hide food avoid eating it. They will appear extremely thin, their hair becomes dull and brittle, and girls will often stop menstruating.
Bulimia is another eating disorder characterized by periods of binging and purging. These children also have a distorted body image, but instead of starving themselves, they will engage in a junk food binge and then feel so guilty that they make themselves throw up. These children may not be super thin, so it is harder to detect.
Restrictive Eating is a less serious form of eating disorder in which children are obsessed with weighing themselves, trying fad diets, and losing weight.
Bulimia is another eating disorder characterized by periods of binging and purging. These children also have a distorted body image, but instead of starving themselves, they will engage in a junk food binge and then feel so guilty that they make themselves throw up. These children may not be super thin, so it is harder to detect.
Restrictive Eating is a less serious form of eating disorder in which children are obsessed with weighing themselves, trying fad diets, and losing weight.
Eating Disorders on the Rise
Did you know that 50 percent of girls between the ages of 11 and 13 see themselves as overweight?
We live in a society that has become obsessed with beauty and with having the perfect body. You are probably aware that the incidence of eating disorders has risen drastically over the past 20 years. But now studies are showing the kids as young preschool age are affected by disordered eating. It starts with a preoccupation with weight and being thin, that leads to dieting to try to lose weight—studies show that 80 percent of 13-year-olds have tried to lose weight. There are serious physical and psychological implications if this obsession continues.
This week I will focus on the different types of eating disorders and their signs and symptoms, as well as ways you, as parents, can promote healthy self-image in your children.
Some Sobering Statistics
42 percent of 1st to 3rd grade girls want to be thinner.
Over one-half of teenage girls and nearly one-third of teenage boys use unhealthy weight control behaviors such as skipping meals, fasting, smoking cigarettes, vomiting, and taking laxatives.
40 percent of newly identified cases of anorexia are in girls 15 to 19 years old.
In the United States, as many as 10 million females and 1 million males are battling an eating disorder.
(Source: NationalEatingDisorders.org)
We live in a society that has become obsessed with beauty and with having the perfect body. You are probably aware that the incidence of eating disorders has risen drastically over the past 20 years. But now studies are showing the kids as young preschool age are affected by disordered eating. It starts with a preoccupation with weight and being thin, that leads to dieting to try to lose weight—studies show that 80 percent of 13-year-olds have tried to lose weight. There are serious physical and psychological implications if this obsession continues.This week I will focus on the different types of eating disorders and their signs and symptoms, as well as ways you, as parents, can promote healthy self-image in your children.
Some Sobering Statistics
42 percent of 1st to 3rd grade girls want to be thinner.
Over one-half of teenage girls and nearly one-third of teenage boys use unhealthy weight control behaviors such as skipping meals, fasting, smoking cigarettes, vomiting, and taking laxatives.
40 percent of newly identified cases of anorexia are in girls 15 to 19 years old.
In the United States, as many as 10 million females and 1 million males are battling an eating disorder.
(Source: NationalEatingDisorders.org)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
