Disordered Eating: My Child Is Not Eating

Signs and Symptoms of Eating Disorders in Children

"Eating disorder" is when a person eats, or refuses to eat, in order to satisfy a psychic need and not a physical need. An eating disorder is a medical condition and requires a medical doctor to diagnose and treat. The following list provides the general symptoms and signs of an eating disorder.

• being secretive about eating
• refusal to eat, eat and purge (vomit)
  
• not willing to talk about food
• fear or feeling of becoming "fat" or obese
• food rituals: eating only certain foods in a certain order, preoccupation with weight and food calories
  
• loss in body weight (15%, or more) in a short period of time ( 1 month)
• low self-esteem
• isolation, away from friends and family
• loss of menstrual period (girls)
• higher levels of stress and anxiousness
• mood swings
• hair loss and brittle nails
• wearing bagging clothes, or layered clothes

If you suspect your child is not eating properly, or has an eating disorder, go to Ask a Counselor for help.


Read other articles regarding types of eating disorders and treatments in this blog site.