A growing child needs all the nutrients from food to grow healthy and strong. If a child refuses to eat food at no apparent reason at all, then there is a problem in your child that needs to be addressed immediately. If sickness has been ruled out as cause of the loss of appetite, then the child must be brought to the doctor for proper evaluation of the problem of not eating. In this case, the child most likely has an eating disorder problem. The parents should be aware of signs of an eating disorder in their child.

The eating disorder involves three kinds:

1. Anorexia is an eating disorder characterized by the fear of taking in food and fear of food itself. The child may usually deny hunger pains for fear of becoming fat.

2. Bulimia is an eating disorder that the child has to do self-induced vomiting after eating.

3. Binge-Eating Disorder or Compulsive Overeating is when the child continually eats even when not feeling hungry or already full but still continues to eat anyway without any control.

All of the above show a dysfunctional way of eating and is a major concern for health problems of the child. The other important behavior or symptoms to look out for are:

• Child refuses to eat or eats very little food.

• There is a sign of social withdrawal, eating alone or eating secretly.

• Prominent change in weight.

• The child has a disproportionate body image.

• The child does strenuous exercises for more than an hour.

• Immediately leaving the table and going to the bathroom.

• Showing signs of irritability, dizziness, feeling cold most of the time.

• Experiencing more stomach cramps.

• Wears loose clothes to hide weight loss.

• The child has dry yellow skin, puffy face and dry coarse hair.

• Fingers have sores and cuts or calluses.

• The child doesn’t care about his/her weight loss.

• The child is afraid to get fat or be overweight.

The eating disorder problem may come from some combined biological, behavioral and social influences. Some children may be made to believe that being thin is a good thing so they can fit into clothes more easily like fashion models do.

The eating disorder problem may also be psychological and emotional in nature. The child fears to be fat so he/she eats less food. This becomes a habit that the child adopts for as long as the child can do this on his own to maintain the ideal weight that he has in mind.

Is your child facing this kind of problem? The first thing to do is to address the problem right away. Try to talk to your child to show concern. Do it calmly and reasonably enough for the child to understand your concern about his health.

Remember not to force the child to eat and don’t reprimand him for not eating. Consult your doctor and find means to improve the child’s diet and eating habits.

You can also seek help from a qualified counselor who would guide you and your child to follow an eating disorder program. This program is a form of treatment which involves medical management, family therapy, nutritional counseling, individual psychotherapy and other important family support group activities.

Rick Missimer

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