EATING DISORDERS

"I am afraid to take my medicine because it might make me gain weight." -Kelsey, age 13, with Colonitis, 20 pounds underweight.

“I just try to look at myself in the mirror, and I think I look ugly.” -Aaron, age 12 (Hostetler)

"81% of 10 year olds are afraid of becoming fat" -Collins from National Eating Disorder Assoiciation

  According to the National Eating Disorders Association, "Anorexia nervosa has one of the highest death rates of any mental health condition." There are many conflicting arguments as to the causes of children developing eating disorders: the media challenges kids examination of self esteem by emphasizing impossible body image ideals, parents pressure their kids to excellently perform in academics and athletics. Children, today, see their parents stress over gained weight, food, and body image. Children constantly face the pressures of society, and its affects spread to damaging consequences. Body image issues seemingly have affected only females, but the number of males with eating disorders has increased from 1 in 20 to 1 in 10 in recent years (Mintle). Parents have the opportunity to help prevent their child from developing an eating disorder, but in order to do so, they need to examine their own thoughts and perceptions of the media and their own personal body image if they want to help them.