Pre-Teen 'Dieting' Could Be Warning

Your 10-year-old daughter suddenly decides that piece of birthday cake is "bad." Even worse, she says she needs to go on a diet. It could be a phase. Or it could be an eating disorder in the making. Should you be worried?

Maybe. Eating disorders are developing at earlier ages - children as young as 7 are showing early signs that could lead to an eating disorder.

"Kids this young constantly get messages that the foods we enjoy must be bad for us. Good food is seen as bad because it tastes good. Kids see things in black and white.

Kids at these ages can't explain why they think they must diet or can't eat certain foods. So, they don't fit some of the classic signs of eating disorders. They don't see a fat person when they look in the mirror or obsess about numbers on the scale.

Bombarded with "thin" message

It's an alarming trend, but researchers aren't sure just how many kids are showing signs. However, the people in the trenches - doctors, registered dietitians and other health care professionals - are seeing more kids at younger ages coming for help.

One problem is that kids are brought into the consumer society much sooner, and they can't avoid the messages that being thin is good.

The problem is expected to worsen. A recent survey suggests as many as 40 percent of 9- and 10-year-old girls say they are on a diet. This doesn't mean that all kids who are on diets are heading for an eating disorder. But if your child announces he or she is on a diet, you should be concerned. You want your child to have a healthy sense of self, a balanced approach to food and good body image for a lifetime of good health.

Parents' role in prevention

Here are tips from the National Eating Disorders Association on how you as a parent can prevent eating disorders:

• Be a good role model, especially when it comes to eating and exercise. Your children are watching you closely. Saying things like "I can't eat that because it will make me fat" can have a major impact on how your children see food. There is no such thing as a good or bad food.
• Don't emphasize beauty and thinness. You may not intend this, but you could be signaling that looks outweigh intelligence and personality. Don't convey an attitude that says, "I'll love you more if you lose weight."
• Exercise for the joy of feeling your body move and growing stronger, not to lose weight.
• Do whatever you can to promote the self-esteem and self-respect in intellectual, athletic and social endeavors.

Sources:

Duke Eating Disorders Program

National Eating Disorders Association

This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.