Eating disorders are on the rise in an unexpected population that includes boys and young men
Child obesity is on the rise and we are all being made aware of it, but also on the rise in the last few decades is adolescent eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia.
It may be surprising to hear that anorexia and bulimia are showing up more in boys and minorities. Some of the cases seem to be severe and others are called “partial-syndrome.” These include young people who have some of the symptoms, but not all of them.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality released a startling statistic that showed hospitalizations for eating disorders in kids under 12 jumped by 119 percent from 1999 to 2006.
Dr. David Rosen, the professor of pediatrics, internal medicine, and psychiatry at University of Michigan, said they are seeing a lot more eating disorders. He explained that it’s in a different group of people than it has been in the past with a lot more boys, little kids, and even colored people.
Currently, boys make up 10 percent of the eating disorder population. They are seeing it more in athletes like gymnasts, wrestlers and dancers.
For years researchers blamed the media for the thin images and even unstable family situations, but now they are thinking there is more. With obesity on the rise and doctors spending time talking with kids about eating better, it might just be that they are not handling it well and kids are becoming obsessed with food intake.
If eating disorders are caught at a young age they have a better chance of having a successful treatment as adults.
Parents are key though. Kids listen and learn from parent’s habits. Parents need to not harp on diets and thinking they are fat. Instead they need to focus on healthy living and eating.
