NEDA TOOLKIT for Parents
My child is too young to develop an eating
disorder. My son has bulimia, so he won’t develop
another type of eating disorder.
Eating disorders can develop or re-emerge at any age.
Eating disorder specialists are reporting an increase
in the diagnosis of children, some as young as five or
six. Many eating disorder sufferers report that their
thoughts and behaviors started much earlier than
anyone realized, sometimes even in early childhood.
Picky eating is common in young children, but doesn’t
necessarily indicate an eating disorder. Although most
people report the onset of their eating disorder in their
teens and young adulthood, there is some evidence
that people are being diagnosed at younger ages. It’s
not clear whether individuals are actually developing
eating disorders at younger ages or if an increased
awareness of eating disorders in young children has led
to improved recognition and diagnosis.
Many with eating disorders will suffer from more than
one disorder before they ultimately recover. Roughly
half of all people with anorexia will go on to develop
bulimia. Some individuals show signs of both anorexia
and bulimia simultaneously, regularly binge eating
and they may also purge while at a low weight (this
is clinically classified as anorexia, binge/purge type).
Still others transition from one diagnosis to another, a
process known as diagnostic cross-over. All may involve
life-threatening consequences.
Now that my loved one is no longer a teenager,
I don’t have to worry about an eating disorder.
They’ll grow out of it.
People can struggle with an eating disorder regardless
of their age. Research literature has identified a
subset of people with eating disorders who seem to
recover spontaneously, without treatment. However,
many people who struggle with eating disorders and
disordered eating in their teens continue to struggle
into adulthood unless they receive treatment. Men and
women at midlife and beyond are being treated for
eating disorders, either due to a relapse, ongoing illness
from adolescence or young adulthood, or due to the
new onset of an eating disorder.
I’m not worried about my friend because
everyone eats too much ice cream sometimes.
Everyone must have binge eating disorder.
Binge eating disorder only affects 3.5% of women,
2% of men and up to 1.6% of adolescents, and it is
not the same thing as occasionally eating more than
is comfortable. Those who are struggling with binge
eating disorder engage in recurring episodes – at least
once per week over three months – in which they eat
significantly more food in a short space of time than
most people would, and experience a sense of loss of
control over their eating behavior. The frequency and
severity of the disorder have a significantly negative
impact on the individual’s life, with many sufferers
experiencing co-occurring conditions such as major
depression and anxiety.
Purging only involves self-induced vomiting.
Purging includes any method of removing food from
the body before it is fully digested. Many times, an
individual is driven to purge to compensate for what
was perceived as excessive food intake. While self-
induced vomiting is one of the most common ways that
an individual will purge, it’s far from the only method.
Individuals can also use laxatives and enemas, as well
as use non-purging compensatory behaviors, such
as abusing insulin, fasting, and excessive exercising.
Individuals can also purge by using more than one
method. Each method carries its own particular risks,
but all involve potentially life-threatening electrolyte
imbalances. Once my daughter with anorexia gains weight,
she will be fine.
Weight and nutritional restoration are only the first
steps to anorexia recovery. Once an anorexia sufferer
has returned to a weight that is healthy for them, they
can usually participate more fully and meaningfully
in psychotherapy. Other psychological work usually
needs to be done so the person can manage difficult
emotions without resorting to anorexic behaviors.
Weight recovery alone does not mean the eating
disorder is cured.
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