A Thin Frame of Mind

from Shine Newsletter, Spring 2006

Thin is beautiful, and beauty matters.” This is the message that comes across loud and clear to today’s children and teens, thanks to excessively skinny pop culture icons. A child’s peers can reinforce these ideals as well. As a result, children are turning away from healthy eating habits in search of this dangerous ideal of beauty. Their quest for a thin body can lead to eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa (a calorie-restrictive diet or refusal to eat at all) and bulimia (cycles of starving, leading to binging on food as hunger becomes extreme then purging the food to avoid weight gain by vomiting and/or taking laxatives).

Current research strongly suggests that genetic and biological factors contribute to the risk of developing an eating disorder. Living in a culture where thinness is valued leads children, adolescents and adults to begin dieting. Highly restrictive dieting, combined with a relentless drive for thinness can lead to an eating disorder for some individuals.

“Awareness of the risk of eating disorders in children is the first step,” says Jennifer Hagman, MD, child and adolescent psychiatrist and medical director of the Eating Disorders Program at The Children’s Hospital. “Research has shown that kids are especially vulnerable to external cues about what is beautiful and what they want to be like according to what they are exposed to in the media and what their peers value. Parents should be aware of what their kids are watching and talk to them about what they are seeing.  Open communication is essential.  Some common childhood activities, such as dance and gymnastics and competitive sports, where a thin body is emphasized, also heighten the risk of eating disorders.”

In addition to good communication, it’s important for parents to model good eating habits. You should also be mindful when you talk about your weight, your child’s weight or the weight of others. Constantly mentioning that you are not happy with your body may lead to your children modeling your behavior in their actions.

Warning Signs

If you’re concerned your child may have an eating disorder, several signs may indicate one is present or developing:

• Your child begins avoiding certain foods, is eating significantly smaller amounts or is becoming overly concerned about counting calories or fat grams.
• Your child significantly increases his or her activity level (i.e., running five miles after track practice or constantly doing sit-ups) and may become angry if you try to stop the activity.
• You hear your child repeatedly say, “I’m fat,” or “I need to lose weight.”
• You notice your child is losing weight or is staying at the same weight despite growing taller.
• Your child begins to skip meals, does not eat with the family at dinner or routinely excuses herself  to go to the restroom during or after meals.

“You are the expert when it comes to your child,” says Jennifer Hagman, MD.  “If you feel something is wrong, speak to your child as well as your physician.  It’s hard being a parent, but ensuring the health and well-being of your child is worth the effort.”

If you are worried about your child’s eating habits, call Children’s Eating Disorders Program to make an appointment at 720-777-1234.