Disordered eating is a term used to describe a wide range of abnormal eating behaviors that can affect children and adolescents.
A new study from JAMA Pediatrics reveals that 1 in 5 kids and adolescents worldwide show signs of disordered eating.
This alarming statistic shows that disordered eating is a widespread issue requiring parents' and caregivers' attention.
Disordered eating in children can lead to serious physical and mental health problems, including eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and poor body image.
Parents can play a crucial role in preventing disordered eating behaviors and promoting healthy eating habits in their children. Here are some tips on how parents can raise healthy eaters:
How Parents Can Raise Healthy Eaters
- Promote body acceptance and self-care.
According to Verywell Mind, parents should encourage their children to accept their bodies and focus on self-care instead of weight. It will benefit children to avoid discriminatory teasing regarding weight gain, especially when it is portrayed in a bad light.
Avoiding negative comments about weight, body shape, or appearance is crucial to promoting a positive body image in children. Instead, focus on the importance of taking care of one's body through regular exercise, getting enough sleep, and eating a balanced diet.
- Focus on nutritious meals rather than restrictive diets.
Family meals can promote healthy eating habits and strengthen family bonds. Parents should try to eat together as often as possible and encourage their children to try new foods. Additionally, parents should discourage dieting and focus on balanced, healthy eating habits.
Children are growing, and they need more food and nutrients for their brains and body to develop healthily. Dieting can lead to unhealthy eating behaviors and a negative relationship with food.
- Acknowledge and talk about unrealistic body standards.
With the rampant use of social media nowadays, parents shouldn't avoid talking to their children about unrealistic body standards that can be seen in media channels nowadays. It is essential that children, even at a young age, do not grow into forcing themselves to have unrealistic bodies that can be seen in magazines, advertisements, and even on social media posts.
Encourage children to think critically about the messages they receive from the media and teach them to question unrealistic beauty standards.
- Do not label foods as "good" or "bad."
According to the Center for Discovery, another critical aspect of raising healthy eaters is to avoid labeling foods as "good" or "bad." This kind of language can lead to food guilt and shame, which can have a negative impact on a child's relationship with food. Instead, it is important to focus on moderation and balance.
Encourage your child to enjoy various foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats, while allowing room for occasional treats. By teaching your child to listen to their body's hunger and fullness cues, they can learn to develop a healthy and positive relationship with food that will last a lifetime.
- Embrace individual differences in body type and appearance.
Children come in all shapes and sizes, and teaching them to embrace body diversity is essential. Encourage children to appreciate and celebrate different body types and avoid making comparisons between themselves and others. Teach children that everyone's body is unique and that all bodies deserve respect and love.
- Know the signs.
Finally, parents need to know the signs of disordered eating and seek professional help if necessary. As per CNN, if there are parents out there suspecting something is wrong with their children's eating habits, this is the part where parents help their kids and intervene.
Signs of disordered eating may include excessive exercise, binge eating, restrictive eating, purging behaviors, and obsessive thoughts about food and weight. Early intervention is crucial to preventing disordered eating behaviors from developing into eating disorders.
In conclusion, disordered eating is a widespread issue affecting many children and adolescents worldwide. As a parent, promoting healthy eating habits and a positive body image in children is essential.
By following these tips, parents can help their children develop a healthy relationship with food and their bodies.
Early intervention is critical to preventing disordered eating behaviors from developing into more serious eating disorders as children grow into adulthood.
