Childhood Eating Disorders and Their Prevalence - Essay Example

-1Running head: CHILDHOOD EATING DISORDERS Childhood Eating Disorders and Their Prevalence You're A Childhood Eating Disorder is now a medical dysfunction that is recognized to be a problem becoming more prevalent among the youth, especially those in the age range of 6-11 years of age. This research focuses on many different aspects in behind the causation of this disorder. Dunitz et al (2001) has found that many young children often suffer with personality and mood disorders, along with the problematic factor of the eating disorder itself. Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, identity, and personal control are some of the most focused examples of this research. The key points found within this research, in regards to this underlying problem, details other causative factors such as socialization, educational, depressive states, personality traits, and a myriad of other complex, and hidden causes perpetuating upon the main problem, which is the eating disorder itself. The point of this research was to try and bring more concise facts into the reasons this disorder has become a growing concern in the medical field today. The ways in which it could be prevented and controlled are all touched upon as well. The ultimate point that was clarified in concluding this research was the fact that more attention to the signs and characteristics of eating disorders among children needed to be focused on, in order to ensure youths have an emotionally balanced and productive life in the best way possible. Childhood Eating Disorders and Their Prevalence Childhood Eating Disorders do not appear out of thin air. There is always an underlying cause for this type of disorder among children and it could be from any number of things. Many doctors believe that there are multideterminants to diagnosing an eating disorder among children. As has been mentioned, there are a number of causative factors that can be held responsible. One of these happens to be the occurrence of sexual abuse. Oddly enough, this type of traumatic episode can lead children to turning to food as an escape. The only thing this does is mask the much larger problem, as well as leading to health complications (Petrie, Tripp 2001). What has been pinpointed in the correlation between sexual abuse and the development of an eating disorder is the fact that when children are sexually abused they develop a self-perception that is filled with negativities. They perceive their body image as a negative thing, their self-esteem lowers, and more than anything else they become embarrassed and ashamed of their own bodies. Food is simply a comforting experience for them and they use it to conceal their other emotions away from their peers, family, and the doctors treating them. Periods of severe domestic violence harshly impact a child's chance at a normal life, especially in their control over their eating habits. As with sexual abuse, children who are beaten are statistically shown to use foods as a type of sheltering avoidance of their circumstances (Salisbury & Wichman 2004). Children between the ages of 6-12 struggle constantly with anxiety, mood swings, and eating disorders. They get headaches, stomachaches, can't concentrate, and develop a very passive characteristic about their life in general (Salisbury & Wichmann 2004). Food is their reprieve, their escape away from reality. Early intervention into situations such as these can prevent these occurrences from happening. Nevertheless, these are not the sole causal factors of the development and progression of an eating disorder among young people. Some of the other possibilities that lead to this particular disorder are, social, cultural, developmental, psychological, and physical/physiological causative reasoning (Petrie, Tripp 2001). In a social context the problem is centered basically around the concept of thin is beautiful, and this especially impacts young girls. They go on crazy diets, some to the point of starvation just to try and meet the odd ideals that have been placed into society, often by the influence of the media. The young people see this view as attractive and culturally acceptable, even though it is not and goes to the extreme. Due to this type of adversity, young people often develop bulimia, or anorexia nervosa because of the multitude of images of women in magazines and advertisements illustrating thinness as being equal to what equivolates beauty. It is very much a societal problem as well. Children are very vulnerable to the affects the media projects and this is one area where it is hard to find an alternative to combat the growing problem. Furthermore, young girls are more impressionable by the sociocultural factors than the males are. The reason for this is the fact that females are judged far more harshly by their outward appearance than males are so girls want to try and be thin and look attractive, even at a young age. It is difficult to try and keep the escalating factors of this problem down as long as the media keeps portraying thin as the most ideal (Petrie & Tripp 2001). Even at a young age, children develop a preoccupation with achieving what they perceive as the ideal body size. If they cannot ascertain what society is dictating then they fall into a mental trap, when actually nothing is physically wrong with them to begin with. Children begin an eating regimen that is dangerous for them and places an extremely negative toll on their bodies. Eating becomes a way for them to cope with their personal problems, and a way for them to ignore the lack of control that they have over their own life (Polivy & Herman 2002). They feel that food is the only thing that they really do have some degree of control over, and in that regard it becomes a looming problem in their lives. As has been stated, young girls initially encounter specific symptoms of an eating disorder due to the media's influence on their personal perception of themselves. In this regard, the media has been largely to blame for many young girls in the age range of 6-11, and up to 12-15 developing an eating disorder (Polivy & Herman 2002). It has been proven to be a fact that the exposure young girls have to TV, directly affects their eating habits in different ways from males. The differences are that the idea for young boys is to develop muscles and have a strong physique, while for girls it is to appear extremely thin but have curves. These are often distorted images illustrating a false reality onto the youth. Furthermore, an additional concern for young girls with an eating disorder is the notion that if they are not treated appropriately while they are still in their younger years then they will carry the problem over into their adult life, possibly the disorder becoming even more severe as time progresses (Kirwain-Taylor 2005). Because of these opposites, the development of an eating disorder has been conceptualized to be ten times more likely to occur within the female population than the males (Polivy & Herman 2002). Unfortunately, there is no surefire way to avoid this type of influence, besides reinforcing good body image into our youth, and helping them to feel better about themselves. Without fully realizing it, parents have a large part to play in how their children feel about themselves and their bodies. Adults can help kids lose the disillusionment about body size and image by showing that the feel good about their own-selves. Parents can make the case of why apples and carrots are better for their children than potato chips and carrot cakes (Boston 2005). If more effort and initiative is put in to watching the nutritional habits of children, by the parents themselves, then there is the hope that the escalation among children with eating disorders will begin to drop. It takes time and patience, and regular reassurance from peers for kid to start to feel more confident about their appearance and their eating habits. This will possibly prevent a child from becoming obsessed about their weight and focus on the things that they should be for their age group (The Mirror 2006). One way in which this has begun being done (in fact since 2001) is to incorporate a mandatory PE program in public schools. Children who suffer with any form of an eating disorder can do well in a regular exercise program, especially if they have a problem with their weight (Cohen & Farley 2001). By promoting extracurricular activities in the school system, it is hoped that it will redirect young peoples focus on having fun and enjoying exercise, rather than focusing on food as a way out of their personal problems and worries. This has also been proven as a positive motivator into getting in shape the right way, not the wrong ones such as: extreme dieting, bingeing, and purging, just to name a few. "Behavioral Modification programs such as this one", are now spread out all across the country of the United States (Cohen & Farley 2001). Eating Disorders create all sorts of adverse problems for children. This disorder induces a variety of medical problems onto children and if they don't receive help in time, many of them can die. Oddly, children who suffer from obesity stand a higher chance of dying from heart problems than children who have a eating disorder that causes them to lose an excess amount of weight, such as with Anorexia Nervosa (Cohen & Farley 2001). Some of the medial ailments that many children face are, asthma, cancer, endocrine disruption, physical defects, Type II Diabetes, cardiovascular problems, bladder dysfunction, vision problems, and a multitude of other medical problems that sometimes can't even be explained (Bogo 2001). There even exists diseases caused by eating that can impact a child's life to drastic degree's, creating a need for medical intervention. Praeder-Willi syndrome is one of these diseases (Waters 2004). This disorder actually goes beyond a child's own ability to control their eating. They hoard food and splurge without even realizing they are doing it and without the ability to stop themselves. Though this is a rare disease, it still affects a percentage of children in the country, and due to its severity, parents have to monitor the portions of food their child eats and pay special attention to their behavior patterns as well. Children with this disorder are out of control, when it comes down to food consumption. There have been cases where children have gained 24 pounds in a seven hour time period (Waters 2004). The best treatment method for this disorder is early intervention consisting of hormone therapy, diet restrictions, and physical therapy (Waters 2004). Although the number of kids with this disorder are small, it still has its own role to play in one of the many reasons why there is an escalation in eating disorders among children. The best thing that parents can do in cases such as these is impress upon their children, good eating habits. Have a lot of vegetables and fresh fruits around the house instead of any fattening, prepackaged items. By ensuring proper nutrition and proper eating habit's the stress and worry that comes with many eating disorders will be greatly reduced (Boston 2005). "What you, as a parent bring into the house, is what the child will consider normal. If you bring in cookies for dessert, then that becomes a treat. It becomes part of their palate" (Boston 2005). However, if a parent brings in fresh juices, fruits, vegetables, and meats such as chicken, fish, and pork instead of fatty beef, potato chips, little Debbie snack cakes, and other fattening foods, the child is bound to pick up on the changes and change their behavioral habit's as well. This will definitely diminish the growing problem of eating disorders that lead to obesity among our children. The outcome will be a more positive attitude, better health, confidence in appearance, and a happy go luck child all around. To conclude this research on childhood eating disorders it is hoped that a far better idea has been given as to what the main causes are of their being this problem to begin with. Vigilance from the parents, and their support and understanding of their children is the main combative feature of destroying the concept of eating disorders among children. Once children can gain the supportive services that they need wholeheartedly, and feel the approval of society in general then they will gain a more positive attitude about themselves and won't be so easily affected by the media, or their peers on how they look. They will turn out to be better minded, more equipped, and proficiently stable, happy children who will one day turn into well bodied adults with strong personal skills and a positive attitude about who they are. References Bogo, Jennifer (2001). Children at Risk. E-Volume 12, 1 Cohen, Deborah & Farley, Tom (2001). Fixing a Fat Nation: Why Diets and Gyms won't save the Obesity Epidemic. Washington Monthly Volume 33, 1 Gabriella, Boston (2005). Food for Thought: Parents Must Set Good Examples of Nutrition for Children. The Washington Times. 1 Kirwain-Taylor, Helen (2005). Love me Slender: Once Almost Unheard of in Those Past Their Teen Years, Eating Disorders Among Older Women are Rocketing thanks to Our Alarming Obsession with Staying Thin. The Mail on Sunday. London, England. Nutt, David & Bell, Caroline & Masterson, Christine & Short, Claire, Dunitz, Martin (2001). Doe, J. Q. (1999, 12 August). Mood and Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents: a Psychopharmacological Approach. London: Dunitz, Martin. The Mirror (2006). Women: Are You Children Obsessed about their Weight The Mirror Newspaper, London, England. Petrie, Trent & Tripp, Margie (2001). Sexual Abuse and Eating Disorders: A Test of a Conceptual Model. A Journal of Research. 1 Polivy, Janet & Herman, Peter (2002). Causes of Eating Disorders. Annual Review of Psychology. 1 Salisbury, Sarah & Wichmann, Lee-Ann (2004). Seen or Unseen, Domestic Violence Traumatizes Children. The Register-Guard. 1 Waters, Jennifer (2004). Eating Obsession, Syndrome Causes Sufferer's to Hoard Food. The Washington Times. 1 Read More