Today, children as young as six years old are being diagnosed with eating disorders. In addition to the classic signs and symptoms of anorexia, a child may present with the following:
Classic self starvation behavior
Severe anxiety
Symptoms of depression
Obsessive thoughts related to a fear of eating and a fear of getting fat
Tremendous psychological torment
Desire to please their parents, but cannot bring themselves to eat the food as their parents request
Not typically an act of defiance, but a serious obsessive thought disorder which must be carefully treated by mental health professionals who are experienced with eating disorders and related co-morbidities
Persistent food avoidance and weight loss for emotional reasons
Some children may not have body image concerns or obsessions
Eating disorders in children need to be distinguished from feeding disorders that might cause failure to thrive and growth problems
Disturbed parent-child relationships often manifest with food and eating problems
We Are Here to Help
Recovery from an eating disorder is possible. It's happening every day at Remuda Ranch. For additional information about the treatment of eating and anxiety disorders, please call 1-800-445-1900 or complete a Take the First Step form and we will contact you with the information you need.
