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Eating disorders affect 6-8% of children and adolescents in the US. Studies are showing that they are presenting at younger ages than ever before with many eating disorders being seen in children ages 12 years old or younger.
Here are some alarming numbers to consider:
30 million people in the US struggle with an eating disorder- that is 14% of the entire population.
Every 62 minutes, at least one person dies as a direct result of an eating disorder.
Only 10% of people with an eating disorder seek professional help.
There are many myths about eating disorders, so it’s important to clear up common misconceptions:
Eating disorder is not a willful behavior, but a serious brain-based disorder.
Eating disorders not only present in underweight or skinny people - it can present in persons of any weight. In fact, youths who are at higher weights are at increased risk of having an eating disorder.
Families do not cause eating disorders, but they can run in families, as there seems to be a genetic component.
Eating disorders can affect any age, gender/gender identities, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. In fact, among younger patients, there are more boys who have disordered eating than girls.
There are different types of eating disorders that children and adolescent can have - each is usually characterized by a specific concerning behavior:
Anorexia nervosa (AN) - restriction
Concerning behavior is restriction of adequate calories and/or energy use. A child or teen with AN may make excuses to get out of eating, ask and talk about calories of certain food, engage in constant dieting or excessive exercise.
Bulimia nervosa (BN) - purging
Concerning behavior is purging or acting to compensate for their eating. This may be done by means of self or medication-induced vomiting, or taking laxative or diet pills regularly. They often visit the bathroom after meals to engage in these behaviors in secret.
Binge Eating Disorder (BED) - binge eating
Concerning behavior is uncontrolled eating. Parents often find food and/or wrappers in their bedroom and sometimes find that certain foods are missing. Patients with BED usually do not engage in purging behaviors as with bulimia nervosa.
Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) - avoidance
Concerning behavior is very limited range of food that they are willing to eat. There is generally little to no interest in eating, food, and/or fear of certain foods, fear of choking, and fear of vomiting.
If you are recognizing any of these behaviors in yourself or your child, please contact your clinician to discuss your concerns further.
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Reviewed by PL MD Behavioral Health Committee, JW MD Patient Education Committee.