Young Eating Disorder
Growth and development is usually associated with the amount and quality of food intake. Nutritionists and dieticians always emphasize the need to build a daily regimen of food consumption revolving around the basic food groups and food pyramids. This means that in order to ensure that you are eating healthy your platter should consist of a dose of each body boosting essentials such as carbs, protein, a little bit of fat and dairy, and of course the ever reliable line-up of vitamins and minerals.
This is not a problem when you reach age of maturity wherein you recognize the fact that to live longer and happier you must follow what your very own health guru advice you to do. But what about the young ones who tend to make a fuss every time they are called to the table for a nice warm meal or tasty treat? Eating disorders affect people from all age groups. Selective eating disorder can even start as young as early childhood and can extend up to the time when the person reaches adulthood. Come and lets turn the pages en route to information about this eating disorder.
If youre a parent isnt it tiring that when you call for the kids because dinner is about to take place begging and pleading is needed in order for the young ones to realize that they must eat the healthy foods you prepared in order to grow strong and well-developed? The fact is selective eating disorder can invade the lives of your children and this will make it hard for you to help them get the prescribed dietary consumption. Basically, SED prevents the intake of foods that are not appealing to the individual especially for growing children.
In fact studies state that the occurrence of selective eating disorder is commonly pictured in the younger generation undergoing autism and similar disorders. For the one afflicted with such disorder there is only a limited list of foods that he can accept and readily take in. The best form of food for the individual experiencing SED is based on the aroma and texture presented. At this predicament, foods are not labelled as healthy instead they art tagged as the ones that are safe to consume. Brand names are given emphasis when someone is under SED. This brings about separation from foods that offer highly effective doses of nutrients needed by the body.
Although it can be associated with other eating disorders the problem brought about by the disorder can also be considered rooted upon personal memories or traumatic instances. One good example is a choking incident with a steak that you used to enjoy and after which all foods that demand chewing is off your list. Paranoia can also play culprit as you may think of how well and clean the preparation of the food youre about to consume was done. More so, its about the perception you develop regarding the food you feast upon. The senses play an important role in combating such disfunctional eating. Food appeal solely relies on the smell, color, blending, texture, and form. People with SED often look for that extra kick of taste in their food.
Given that selective eating disorder normally occurs during the younger years it is easier to resolve. If you are a parent struggling with your child having such disfunctional eating habit all you really need to do is step up and be a role model. Eat your veggies and crank up on the fruits.
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Who Is At Risk for an Eating Disorder?
While there is only an answer on who are more likely to develop an eating disorder, it would be safe to assume and tackle the different factors which may contribute to its existence. Preponderance is based on the assumption that the possible factors involved have a significant effect, with several supporting case studies as evidence within a general population.
Scientists and researchers have dealt with understanding eating disorders in a multidimensional risk perspective, wherein there is a direct relevance with the increased occurrence of eating disorders as an individual has more of the probable factors presently happening. As there are more factors involved, it pushes the risk a notch higher, as well as giving a relative description on how intense the disorder would probably be.
Activity
Those who are found to have a career may find themselves faced with the obligation to maintain competence in their field by resorting to any of the current forms of eating disorder. For instance, those who are in the show business industry are pressured to look their best, and follow the normal dictated fashion regarding body physique. Though not necessarily compulsory, those who are regarded as pop stars and icons have a generally increased value if they retain their physiques to a considerable image.
Women are more prone to developing a form of eating disorder as their value increases as they appear more attractive and appealing to the masses. This is highly dictated with body form, as well as face value coupled with acting talent.
This does not only limit people in the show business industry as those who are quite busy in their own jobs may develop a habit of skipping meals or altered meal times. Proper eating habits are compromised just to be able to cope up with the work schedule and deadlines to produce the expected output.
People who are also active in sports may ironically develop some form of improper diet regimen and subsequent eating disorder to achieve the weight class which their sport requires them. Though this is against their principles of being an athlete, this is more of a lack of guidance or sense of responsibility.
Past Trauma
People who had a previous state of abuse in any form have been found out to develop a defense mechanism to cover up their past traumas. The feeling of being able to inflict discomfort to the self to replace the past burden is highly evident as one form of trying to compensate for it. Another suggestion indicates that the idea of feeling unwanted may trigger a counter action of trying to feel accepted by obtaining a attractive physique through drastic means.
Emotionally Burdened
Those who are currently pressured with life’s problems such as undergoing a wedding, death of a loved one, divorce, natural calamities, and the like may trigger a paradigm shift in personal self preservation. Though not necessarily developing outright, the added emotional pressures may contribute to letting the person view eating disorders as a means to address some issues concerning the totality of events.
The temporary escape from current emotional dilemmas may manifest into any of the eating disorder as this activity shadows any thought about it. From the classic binge eating to satisfy a sense of comfort for a short period, to being anorexic to produce a sense of reward to cover for ill emotions, eating disorders serve a variety of personal satisfaction to each individual.
Socially Pressured
Peer pressure and current social views regarding ideal body physiques tend to convince people to jump into the bandwagon and emulate what they see as appealing. However, the lack of supporting information on proper means to achieve such healthy and wonderful bodies misleads many into thinking that any means may be employed. Others who are left unguided on the proper method may get impatient, frustrated, or depressed, and may try to resort to severe forms of dieting and eating disorder to produce the desired result.
Adolescence
The developmental stage of people may dictate the preponderance of contracting the disease process. Adolescents are found to be at the highest risk of developing such problems with eating disorders as they are the most susceptible to being swayed from their rational thoughts with radical ones. This is also increased with the characteristic of people in this stage to actively try to express them selves and create their own identity acceptance in society.
Other Views
There are some other claims that being overly health conscious may be an intrinsic pressure upon the self to develop an eating disorder, based on the fact that an advocating health measures too much may trigger an extreme form of staying fit that it already becomes an unbalanced eating regimen. There is still much to be explored with this area, especially with religious vegetarians as well as other diet programs being followed by zealous patrons.
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What Should A Parent Watch Out For?
We can never deny the possibility that one or two of your children may suffer from eating disorders. Seeing our son or daughter not eating anything and shedding out pounds in a short period of time, or seeing them eat everything is a very worrisome sight to see.
Knowing the signs and symptoms of eating disorders makes it easy for you to spot the problem on your kids and implement the right treatment method to get it out of their system fast; rather than slowly noticing the disease when it is already too late.
Change In Their Eating Habits
One sign of eating disorder is the sudden or gradual change in their eating habits. Individuals suffering from anorexia nervosa might stop eating that comes with their drive to lose weight and get back their lost self-esteem, even when they are already in their normal weight level.
Bulimia nervosa is the opposite — individuals under this condition indulge in overeating, mostly in secret, to avoid embarrassment. Overweight and obesity coupled with cardiovascular problems are common signs of this eating disorder.
Observing Your Daughter
Females are more prone to eating disorders than males. Medical survey shows that 7 out of 10 eating disorder problems are attributed to women than men. One reason for this is that females are more susceptible to emotional and behavioral changes, as well as being overly conscious with their physical outlook.
If your daughter has stopped eating as their weight loss solution, and scantly eating for months, then you can be sure that they are already suffering from eating disorder. But this doesnt stop there; females might still think that they are huge even if they are below the average weight, so they would most likely continue to stop eating until they get over their low self-esteem problems.
Overeating And Excessive Exercise
If your son or daughter is suffering from the bulimia nervosa eating disorder, then overeating is a simple sign you can watch out for. But another manifestation attributed to excessive eating is the compulsion to lose weight through excessive physical exercise.
Most feel ashamed of this condition and will try their best to get rid of the evidence by indulging in strenuous physical exercise to lose weight fast. The only problem with this is that they will still continue with their eating habits and find that their solution to weight loss is rendered ineffective. They will just keep on doing it just to get rid of the depression and anxiety that comes with being heavy with no visible results.
Eating Even When Not Hungry
People suffering from binge eating or bulimia nervosa are prone to eat even when they are not hungry. It’s normal to overeat when you’re hungry but eating still when you’re stomach is still full is purely another matter entirely.
Try to observe your son or daughter’s eating habits, especially after regular meal time. If they tend to eat more in between meals then they are surely suffering from this condition, especially if this is a daily habit.
Desperate In Purging
People with eating disorders are prone to bouts of desperate purging — especially those who are suffering from binge eating or bulimia nervosa. They usually take laxatives or herbal supplement to help them get rid of the waste and food inside their bodies. This is mostly done in secret and tries to repeat the process in random intervals until they feel satisfied — which usually end up in more eating sessions afterwards when they start to feel empty or visited by the urge to binge.
Quick Treatment
Parents should be very observant with the above signs and symptoms of eating disorders if they dont want to put their children’s health in danger. It is possible for anorexia nervosa patients to suffering from weakness and fatigue that comes with the lack of nutrients in their body — as well as being prone to diseases that can easily attack them in their weakened state. Obese and overweight individual are prone to high-blood pressure, body pains, muscle spasm, cardiovascular problems, or cancer if left unchecked.
It is essential that you are quick to react to these signs and confront your son and daughter regarding their eating disorder. After all, acceptance is one way to get rid of the problem and can pave a way for effective treatment to get rid of it before it has a permanent hold on you.
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