A Look At Teen Eating Disorders
Teen eating disorders occur most often this period as a child goes through puberty and have to deal with body shape and size. Many children are at this point most affected by what their family and friends say about their looks. They are particularly vulnerable to peer pressure. Teasing and taunts by others also do not help.
An obsession over weight issues can lead to a child developing teen eating disorders. It is the girls who are most affected. They want to be attractive to the boys, whose first criteria is often based on looks when they start to take interest in the opposite sex. However, boys also get affected too.
Teen eating disorders usually develop in secret. A child would often hide his or her eating disorder from others due to shame and guilt involved.
It is important that parents help to foster positive attitudes to preventing teen eating disorders in their children. While parents may not want their children to be obese either, too much dieting can lead to teen eating disoders.
It is important to inculcate good eating habits in order to prevent teen eating disorders. Parents should set an example and good role model. Afterall, it is to the parents that children learn the most from. Schools should also get into the act by discussing teen eating disorder topics openly and to teach good nutrition and diet habits.
Arresting associated problems at this critical age can help prevent many teen eating disorders. As always, open communication channels help the child come forward in disclosing his innermost thoughts about eating disorders.
Tags: Eating Disorders