If you suspect your child may have an eating disorder, consult these tips: Rebecca Meyerson, a certified nutrition counselor who practices in Westchester County, NY, offers the most common warning signs to look for in anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorders. If you recognize these symptoms in your child, Meyerson recommends seeking professional treatment.
Anorexia
Definition: Eating disorder characterized by the refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an obsessive fear of gaining weight.
Symptoms:
1. When one becomes too thin and denies how much weight they have lost or still perceive themselves as fat
2. Significant loss of hair
3. Hair (fuzz) growing on one's face
4. Skin turns to a yellowish color because of liver trouble
5. One becomes dizzy often and may experience fainting spells
Bulimia
Definition: Eating disorder characterized by regular episodes of overeating followed by purging (i.e. vomiting, use of laxatives, excessive exercise) to prevent weight gain.
Symptoms:
1. Excess use of laxatives or diuretics
2. Drastic weight changes from binging (see below) and purging (i.e. fasting, exercising excessively, or abusing laxatives)
3. When one continues to have trouble swallowing
4. One experiences persistent stomach problems including digestion and heartburn
5. Appearance of swollen face and puffy cheeks
Binge Eating
Definition: Eating disorder characterized by regular episodes of compulsive overeating in which the person feels out of control, often followed by extreme distress or guilt.
Symptoms:
1. When one eats secretively
2. Eating quickly without tasting food
3. When a person loses control and wants to stop eating but can not
4. Not knowing how to stop eating even when they are not hungry anymore
5. Stealing or hiding food
*Note: The information above should not be used for diagnosis or treatment of an eating disorder, it is only presented as a guide to recognizing possible symptoms of eating disorders. If you suspect your child has an eating disorder, please seek professional diagnosis and treatment.
Rebecca Meyerson has a master's degree in nutrition, food science, and exercise science. She is a certified nutrition counselor through the American Association of Nutrition Consultants. Meyerson recently founded Simply Healthy Living in Westchester County, New York, with the mission to promote holistic wellness through a balanced lifestyle incorporating super foods, supplementation, and exercise. She counsels adults and children based on their physiological components of health, determined by their genetics, gender, and blood type. Meyerson works with her clients to set goals that are achievable through gradual lifestyle changes. To learn more about her programs, visit www.simplyhealthyliving.org.
