How to Tell If Your Child Has Binge Eating (and What to Do About It)
The pandemic has not spared anyone’s mental health , and, unfortunately, mental health crises for children, including eating disorders , have become more frequent. While anorexia , or the fear of gaining weight, which usually manifests as food restriction, is the most talked about eating disorder, binge eating can also negatively impact your child’s life, causing lifelong health problems. Here’s what to look out for and what to do if you suspect your child has compulsive overeating.
What are the signs of compulsive overeating?
The National Eating Disorders Association , which has a helpline and resources for those who need support for all types of eating disorders, defines binge eating disorder (BED) as “repeated episodes of eating large amounts of food (often very quickly and to the point of failure). point of discomfort) Feeling out of control while drinking feelings of shame, suffering or guilt afterwards; and not regularly use unhealthy compensatory measures (such as purging) to combat binge eating.” They say it’s the most common eating disorder in the US and is recognized by the DSM, which is used to classify mental illness (and get insurance to pay for treatment).
Some things to look for in your child include:
- Fear of weight gain
- Weight fluctuation
- Gastrointestinal complaints (cramps, acid reflux, etc.)
- Body check (frequently looking in the mirror or windows at yourself)
- Fear of eating or feeling uncomfortable in the presence of others
- Missing food in the house or too many wrappers/containers
- Accumulating or hiding large amounts of food of choice
- Attempts to hide excessive food intake
- Diet or new eating habits or fads (e.g. vegan, no carbs, etc.)
- Signals that the child cannot stop eating too much
- Eating rituals (eating only at certain times or certain foods)
- Violation of the usual diet (eating during the day, not with meals, eating alone)
- Withdrawal from friends or activities
Please be aware that your child, especially a teenager, can gain significant weight during puberty, and this is not necessarily a sign of overeating, sometimes children grow taller rather than wider, or vice versa. Be careful not to impose your possible disordered eating behavior on the child, and check with your own body image.
What to do if you think your child is bleeding
Dr. Bill Khudenko , Global Head of Mental Health at K Health , says if you’re concerned your child has an eating disorder: “It’s important to see a pediatrician, nutritionist, or mental health professional to determine if your child has eating disorder. may meet the criteria for compulsive overeating. In addition to the negative effects this disorder can have on your child’s body, early intervention is likely to result in better treatment before the behavior becomes too ingrained.”
The long-term consequences of eating disorders include mental health consequences such as anxiety and depression and lifelong physical consequences such as metabolic problems and cardiovascular disease . Early treatment is vital.
After diagnosis
Gudenko says that if your child is diagnosed with binge eating disorder, “treating eating disorders is difficult because we all need food to survive. This, of course, means that you cannot completely refuse food, but you must work on changing the child’s eating habits so that he becomes healthier.
While you may have to try a few different treatments to find the one that works best for your child and family, Khudenko says “the ideal treatment for binge eating includes a consultation with a well-trained psychiatrist who can help the family.” evaluate their food culture. Interventions are likely to include restricting access to some foods that are commonly used for overeating, developing alternative coping mechanisms if food is being used to manage stress, and learning to slow down the pace of eating by reading the body’s satiety signals.”
Many parents are now out of the era of low-fat and fad diets. We hope to save our children from the pain and heartache caused by years of hating their bodies and wanting to be someone else. By watching our children and making sure to stay aware of potential eating disorders, we give them the gift of body acceptance and love that they can carry with them into adulthood.