By Kaitlynn Christiansen
We are constantly bombarded with media and advertisements that feature people with bodies that are heavily photoshopped to “perfection”. We are told that our worth is based upon what our body looks like. The pressures of looking a certain way can be immensely damaging for children and often cause them to turn to unhealthy methods to achieve perfection.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, teenage girls and young women in their early twenties are at the highest risk of developing eating disorders. However, children even younger than that of both sexes are still at a risk as constant media exposure becomes more and more prevalent in children’s upbringings.
As parents and educators of these children, it is important for us to know what eating disorders are, the dangers of them, and the signs we should look for in our children. There are three major types of eating disorders. Each comes with its own symptoms and health risks.
Anorexia Nervosa
What is it?
This eating disorder is where a person will starve themselves in an effort to lose weight. It has the highest fatality rate for psychiatric diagnosis besides opioid addiction.
What are the symptoms?
- Severe weight loss
- Digestion issues
- Depression
- Muscle atrophy
- Weakness/Dizziness
- Brittle bones/hair/nail
- Obsessive calorie counting and exercise
What are the health risks?
- Heart issues such as arrhythmias
- Kidney problems
- Death
Bulimia Nervosa
What is it?
This is an eating disorder where a person participates in sessions of binge eating followed by purging. Purging can be categorized as inducing vomiting, taking laxatives, starving, or excessive exercise. These are called compensatory behaviors to correct the infraction of binge eating “bad” high calorie foods.
What are the symptoms?
- Consistently going into the bathroom following meals
- Misusing pills such as laxatives and diuretics
- Constant sore throat
- Digestive issues
- Dental issues (from the vomiting)
- Obsessive calorie counting and exercise
What are the health risks?
- Heart issues such as arrhythmias
- Esophageal tears/gastric ruptures
- Death
Binge Eating Disorder
What is it?
This is an eating disorder where a person has periods where they consume excessive amounts of food and feel unable to stop. This differs from Bulimia Nervosa because the binge is not followed by compensatory behaviors, such as vomiting.
What are the symptoms?
- Eating excessive amounts of food at least once a week and feeling unable to control the compulsion
- Eating until nauseous and uncomfortable
- Eating when not hungry
- Eating alone
- Hiding the amount of food that is being eaten
What are the health risks?
- Obesity (and coinciding issues)
- Heart issues
- Diabetes
- Death
Eating disorders are such a major issue that we and our children are faced with, and that is why it’s crucial to teach children the importance of having a healthy body image from a young age. Talk with them about the media and advertisements they will see and help them see what is real and what is not. Teach them about the dangers of not having a healthy body image, and let them ask questions. Stay diligent and pay attention to the things your child watches and what they are exposed to. This will give you opportunities to correct misconceptions and have learning experiences with them. All the while, it will empower them with knowledge on how to keep themselves healthy in mind and body.
For more ideas on how to help children learn about having healthy body images, check out our books: Messages about me: Wade’s Story, A Boy’s Quest for Healthy Body Image and Messages About Me: Sydney’s Story, A Girl’s Journey to Healthy Body Image
Kaitlynn Christiansen is an elementary teacher who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Marriage and Family Studies from Brigham Young University-Idaho. She loves to learn and is passionate about educating families about healthy relationships.
Citations:
American Psychiatric Organization. (n.d.). What are eating disorders? Psychiatry.org – What are Eating Disorders? https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/eating-disorders/what-are-eating-disorders
Mayo Clinic. (2018, February 20). Anorexia nervosa. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anorexia-nervosa/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353597
Mayo Clinic. (2018, May 10). Bulimia nervosa. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bulimia/symptoms-causes/syc-20353615
Mayo Clinic. (2018, May 5). Binge-eating disorder. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/binge-eating-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20353627
National Institute of Mental Health. (2023). Eating disorders. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/eating-disorders#part_2573
