What can parents do to prevent eating disorders? Parents should recognize that eating disorders in children are caused by genetics and poor self esteem. "Eating disorders are usually a result of the pressure...
"Eating disorders are usually a result of the pressure that culture or family puts on a person," says Sondra Kronberg, a clinical nutrition therapist specializing in eating disorders. She is on the board of directors of the National Eating Disorders Association and is the executive director of NEDA Long Island.
"They are most prevalent in children who are not feeling good about themselves for emotional reasons or because of a genetic predisposition. It's important for parents to really understand their child's temperament and self-esteem and to really watch and support the child. They should value them for internal qualities beyond what they look like or how they eat or exercise. Treatment has a multidisciplinary approach. For the most part, depending upon the age of the child, we want the family to be involved. This doesn't happen in an isolated situation. You can send somebody out for treatment, but if they come back to the same family system, it happens to them in the same way as it happened before. People who have eating disorders are all experiencing some sort of frustration and lack of communication.
"Children are going to be exposed to lots of rules and regulations about food from other students. They'll hear, 'you shouldn't eat this,' or 'you are too fat to eat this.' I think the parent really has a role in correcting those messages and stabilizing their child's thinking. Everybody is beautiful, there are different bodies, there are different shapes, and food is important for the fuel, energy, and nutrients you need. Parents need to deliver the message of eating in moderation."
