Avoiding eating disorders

Dear BP,

How can I avoid my child from developing an eating disorder?  I don’t want her to be obsessed with her weight.

Carla, Reading, PA

Dear Carla,

Absolutely.  Children develop eating disorders as a way to control something in their life when everything else seems out of control.  Here are some east ways to keep her concentration on health, not weight.

 

1. Use words like lean, meaning the right weight and muscle development for a child’s body type.  Avoid words like “trim” ,“thin”, or "skinny". 

 

2. Avoid restrictive eating programs, which focus on calorie- counting, menu-planned, weight-loss plans.  Denying your child certain types of foods (or enough food) can lead to cravings and inevitable binging, which may lead to shame and regret. 

 

3. Address her weight infrequently.  Instead ask questions like” How is your energy”?,  "How do you like the new whole- wheat pasta we are eating at home?",  "Do you feel tired at school?"

 

4. Scale down.  Don’t obsess about weighing your child.  Leave it to your pediatrician on your next visit.