Eating disorders include:

 

Anorexia: Children with this type of disorder severely limit how much food they eat, this often includes food that are high in carbohydrates and fat.

 

Bulimia: Children with bulimia eat too much food (binge) and then make themselves throw up, they may also take large amounts of laxatives or other medicine that clear out their intestines.

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Eating disorders can cause serious harm and may be fatal – anorexia has the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses. But even though they are serious illnesses, eating disorders are treatable. Like any other illness, the sooner someone with an eating disorder is treated, the more likely the recovery is.

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While being most common among females, about 10-15% of all individuals with anorexia are male. People of all ages develop anorexia but it is most common for onset to occur during adolescence.

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Diagnostic criteria for Anorexia Nervosa from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-V)

 

• Restriction of energy intake relative to requirement, leading to a significantly low body weight in the context of age, sex, developmental trajectory and physical health.

• Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, or persistent behaviour that interferes with weight gain, even though at a significantly low weight

• Disturbance in the way in which one's body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or persistent lack of recognition of the seriousness of the current low body weight.

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Signs & Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa

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Not everyone with anorexia experiences all of the same symptoms

and behaviours. This is a fairly extensive breakdown of some of the

most common behaviours that you might notice in someone who

has anorexia. It may be difficult for parents or teachers to tell the

difference between ordinary dieting in young people and a more

serious problem. If you do notice that your child or someone you love

is experiencing some or many of the items on this list, we encourage

you to seek professional help.

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Signs of Anorexia & Bulimia

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• Weight loss or unusual weight changes

• Periods being irregular or stopping

• Missing meals, eating very little and avoiding ‘fattening’ food

• Avoiding eating in public and secretly eating

• Large amounts of food disappearing from the cupboards

• Believing they are fat when they are actually underweight

• Exercising excessively, often in secret

• Becoming preoccupied with food, cooking for other people, calorie counting and setting target weights

• Going to the bathroom or toilet immediately after meals

• Using laxatives and vomiting to control weight or sometimes other medications/herbal remedies to lose weight

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Physical & Psychological Symptoms

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There are a number of signs and symptoms, but the child doesn’t have to have all of them to be suffering.

It’s not always obvious that your child has an eating disorder – remember, they are mental illnesses.  If you’re worried about your child yourself, you should still seek professional help immediately.

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• Feeling excessively cold

• Headaches and dizziness

• Changes in hair and skin

• Tiredness and difficulty tending to normal activities

• Damage to health, including stunting of growth and damage to bones and internal organs

• Loss of periods and risk of infertility

• Anxiety, depression and risk of suicide

• Poor concentration or skipping school

• Lack of confidence and withdrawal from friends

• Dependency or over-involvement with parents instead of developing independence

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Vulnerability to Develop an Eating Disorder

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Some people are more at risk than others such as obsessional character, sensitive or anxious individuals,

genetic factors, family dynamic, overanxious or overprotective attitude by parents.

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Other  factors which might increase the likelihood of having an eating disorder include:

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• Being female

• Being previously overweight

• Lack of self-esteem

• Being a perfectionist

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Physical & Psychological Complications

of Anorexia Nervosa

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In addition to the signs and symptoms of anorexia listed above,

you may also notice significant changes in your child's health and

physical functioning. In anorexia nervosa’s cycle of self-starvation,

the body is denied the essential nutrients it needs to function

normally. The body is forced to slow down all of it's processes to

conserve energy; resulting in serious acute and long-term medical

consequences.

 

Anorexia can cause severe physical problems because of the effects of starvation and dehydration on the body.

It can lead to the loss of muscle strength, general weakness, fatigue, lethargy and reduced bone strength, cardiovascular changes, heart failure, skin and hair changes.

Teenage girls whose periods have previously started may find that they stop (amenorrhea) and experience decreased sex drive and infertility.

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The illness can affect children’s relationship with family and friends, causing them to withdraw; it can also have an impact on their education. Anorexia is a mental disorder that can be associated with depression, low self-esteem, alcohol misuse and self-harm. The seriousness of the physical and emotional consequences of anorexia is often not immediately acknowledged by parents, and the children often do not get professional help immediately  – they may go to extreme lengths to hide their eating problem from family and friends, and sometimes might not evem realise that they are ill.

Anorexia in children and young people appear to be of low weight also smaller in stature than other people their age, and are slower to develop physically. 

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Treatment

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Parents and teachers may be able to spot a child or teen with anorexia, but many children suffering from it initially  keep their illness very private and hidden.

A child Psychiatrist or a mental health expert can diagnose anorexia. He or she will talk with parents and teachers about the child’s symptoms and behaviour.

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It is important to remember that if both anorexia and bulimia are allowed to continue unchecked, they can develop into life-threatening conditions. Over time, they are harder to treat and the effects become more serious.

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Treatment for anorexia usually involves a combination of talking therapy and supervised weight gain.
It is important to start treatment as early as possible to reduce the risk of serious complications, particularly if your child has already lost a lot of weight.

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Treatment will depend on your child’s symptoms, age, and general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is.

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At CMC CAMHS - Dubai, we offer options of Treatments where appropriate, which include:

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• Individual Therapy

• Family Therapy (Family interventions focused on eating disorders)

• Behaviour Therapy

• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

• Cognitive analytic therapy (CAT)

• Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT)

• Focal psychodynamic therapy (FPT)

 

Parents play a vital role in any treatment. Your child may need to be admitted to the hospital for problems with severe weight loss and physical complications.

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Cambridge Medical Centre (CMC) Child & Adolescent Mental Health information publications Copyright 2018.

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 Read more:​ 

Eating Disorders in Young People - what parents need to know: information for parents, carers and anyone who works with young people

© Royal College of Psychiatrists March 2017