Eating Disorders among Small Children: Here's What You Should Know

“The groundwork of all happiness is health.” – Leigh Hunt

The importance of health is something which can’t be described in words. Having good health is a must if you want to lead a life full of happiness. Well, it’s true that it’s only inside a healthy body where a happy soul resides. If you want to lead a blissful life, being physically and mentally fit is the primary requirement. But these days, health issues are rather common among people of every age group, especially small children, who are generally affected quite easily. In this article, we are going to talk about the eating disorders among small children and what can we do to keep our children healthy.

Also Read: Preparing Children for School in Covid Times

Eating Disorders among small Children 

The rate of eating disorders among small children is increasing at quite a rapid pace. This is due to multiple reasons – including genetic, behavioural, psychological and social factors. It’s too easy to get affected by an eating disorder but very difficult to get rid of it. 

Types of Eating Disorders among Small Children 

Following are 3 of the most common eating disorders among small children: 

• Binge Eating Disorder: Binge eating disorder refers to the disorder of eating food in huge quantities. Small children suffering from this disorder generally eat mindlessly and keep on eating even when their tummies are full. They often don’t know why they’re eating, but they just feel like eating a lot. One of the main side-effects of binge eating disorder is obesity. Small children suffering from binge eating disorder often put on a lot of weight, and due to this, their confidence level stays low and they become victims of body shaming. 
• Anorexia Nervosa: Anorexia Nervosa is a disorder in which one tries to maintain below-average body weight. Small children suffering from Anorexia Nervosa try their best to stay as thin as possible. Such children are often found starving themselves in order to stay underweight. Other habits that are generally found in children with Anorexia Nervosa include eating in very less quantities (or just tasting the food), eating infrequently (skipping several meals), exercising intensely, and purging food by vomiting or by using laxatives. The side effects of Anorexia Nervosa include anxiety, dizziness, fatigue, insomnia and mood disorders.
• Bulimia Nervosa: Bulimia Nervosa is the disorder in which one first indulges in binge-eating by eating food in huge quantities and then purges it by vomiting or/ and by using laxatives. Small children having Bulimia Nervosa are often found purging themselves by trying self-induced vomiting. Such children are likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, etc. The common symptoms visible in the small children suffering from Bulimia Nervosa include swelling in cheeks or jaws and fluctuations in body weight.

You must be wondering, as a parent, what can you do to prevent your child from having such eating disorders. Well, the root of the majority of eating disorders is psychological and social factors. For instance, even a small case of bullying or body shaming greatly affects a small child. So, as a parent, it’s your duty to provide a safe and comfortable environment for your child. While at home you are there to safeguard your child, you should not forget that the school is a child’s second home. Hence, it becomes important that the school you’re choosing for your child takes special care of children to prevent them from developing bad habits, like binge eating, etc. and protects them from bullying, body shaming, etc. Such a school is SHEMFORD, Gurugram. 

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SHEMFORD Futuristic School, Gurugram is the perfect school for 21st-century families. This is because it aims as addressing all the problems and worries of the 21st-century parents and tries its best to make a child’s learning experience to be blissful and holistic.  In most cases, School’s staff generally doesn’t look after your child’s health; they don’t care whether your child is eating or not, or what are they eating, but SHEMFORD is a school that separately looks after the safety and nutrition of every single child while their parents are away. If you are really worried about the eating disorders among small children and want to keep your child away from them, considering SHEMFORD, Gurugram as a school for them would certainly be a perfect fit for you and your child. 
    

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