In honour of eating disorder awareness week in February, we are sharing 5 signs of eating disorders in children and youth. We hope that this will help you find some clarity in a world full of constantly changing and often dangerous nutrition messaging.
Before we get too far, it’s important to understand that eating disorders and disordered eating exist on a spectrum. Children in the early stages of developing an eating disorder may only have a few minor behaviour changes. Whereas children in the later stages will have very noticeable and distressing changes to their thoughts and actions.
The signs listed below are some of the most common red flags that we see in our practice. Please know however, this isn’t a comprehensive list. Eating disorders look different for every child. If your parent senses are tingling, reach out, regardless of how many or how few symptoms you are seeing.
Sign 1 – Your child has recently cut out certain foods or food groups
If your chocolate loving kiddo has recently sworn off sweets, we want to investigate further. Restricting certain foods or food groups may be a sign your child is feeling stressed about food. Children may cut out foods they previously loved, such as grilled cheese or macaroni. They may also cut out specific food groups, most commonly carbohydrates and dairy.
We also see some children adopting a vegan or vegetarian dietary pattern as the eating disorder attempts to limit the diet. This can go as far as completely cutting out meals, most often beginning with school lunches. Keep an eye out if it feels like your child is crossing foods off their accepted list.
Sign 2 – Your child is label reading, food tracking or measuring food
Technology has made it very easy for our kids to have access to an overwhelming amount of nutrition information. Apps such as MyFitnessPal can be dangerous tools in the hands of a child with eating challenges. These apps allow children and teens to set calorie goals and track their intake. This can be triggering for anyone at risk of an eating disorder. When tracking food, children are apt to begin measuring portion sizes with measuring cups or tablespoons.
Checking food labels for calories, sugar, carbohydrates or fat is another warning sign. Unfortunately, many children learn this skill at school. If you notice any of theses behaviours happening, start an open and curious conversation with your child to learn more about what’s going on.
Sign 3 – Your child is pre-occupied with their body size or shape
Fixating on appearance is common in many forms of disordered eating and eating disorders. The term “body checking” refers to behaviours your child is using to evaluate the size of their body. This may present as frequently looking in the mirror, in shop windows and in any reflective surface. Your child may also wrap their hands around their wrists, arms or thighs as a way to measure changes in body size. Similarly, you may notice that they trace their collar bones or hip bones.
Keep in mind that an obsession with the scale is also a common component of body image pre-occupation. Some children are very vocal about body image dissatisfaction, while others may keep to themselves.
Sign 4 – Your child is engaging in excessive or secretive exercise
Exercise can be a “compensatory behaviour”, which means it is a way for your child to compensate for the food they’ve eaten. This may look like standard exercise such as jogging and weight lifting. It may also present as constant fidgeting, step counting (with a Fitbit or smart watch) or even refusing to sit down. Research shows that boys are more likely to engage in excessive exercise as part of their eating disorder, so extra hours at the gym may not be a healthy choice.
Sign 5 – Your child is avoiding food related social events
Birthday parties, ice cream after baseball and lunch with friends may suddenly become stressful for your child or teen. They may choose to skip out on social opportunities as a way to avoid eating. Teens will withdraw from their friends, becoming more isolated as the eating disorder progresses.
What to do if you suspect your child has an eating disorder
It is never too early to seek help if you suspect that your child has an eating disorder. The National Eating Disorder Awareness Centre is a great resource for families interested in learning more about eating disorder resources in Canada.
Open up a conversation with your child about your concerns. Be curious rather than accusing. Wrap them in compassion and reassure your child that you are here to support them. For personalized support, check out our eating disorder page and connect with a dietitian on our team to get started on the road to recovery.
P.S. If you appreciated this article about 5 signs of eating disorders in children, be sure to check out our article “7 Steps to Protect your Kids from Diet Culture“.
References
Striegel‐Moore, R. H., Rosselli, F., Perrin, N., DeBar, L., Wilson, G. T., May, A., & Kraemer, H. C. (2009). Gender difference in the prevalence of eating disorder symptoms. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 42(5), 471-474.
National Eating Disorder Information Centre. (n.d.). Help for Someone Else. Retrieved February 13, 2023 from https://nedic.ca/help-for-someone-else/
