More boys struggling with eating disorders
More boys struggling with eating disorders
The Dominion Post, Wellington NZ
More boys are developing eating disorders, and children as young as 9 are being admitted to hospital with anorexia. The increasing pressure on children and teens to be a certain shape and size had contributed to a rising number of young people battling eating disorders, Wellington Hospital adolescent physician Anganette Hall said. On top of striving to look like skinny celebrities on magazine covers, there was a growing fear about obesity that was impacting on relationships with food.
"What's portrayed in the media is not reality," Dr Hall said. Other factors, such as bullying about weight and negative comments from others about food and weight, could also play a part.
"Some people are just genetically more likely to get an eating disorder and some because of their personality characteristics . . . perfectionist, obsessive and intelligent," she said. "It is more common in the white middle-upper class, but we do see people from low socio-economic groups."
So far this year, nine patients under 16 had been admitted to hospital in Wellington, with most staying for about seven weeks.
Dr Hall also sees about 12 young people with eating disorders as outpatients each week. "Certainly this year there's been a high volume, but we can always get a blip. The volume of outpatients I see, that's increasing."
Last year, 12 youngsters were admitted to hospital and of the 11 admitted in 2010, two were just 9 years old. But there had been children as young as 8 admitted for anxiety, which had caused eating problems, Dr Hall said.
"The majority are 14-year-olds. The older they are, the more likely they are to be female."
The number of prepubescent boys and girls with eating problems were about equal, but more boys seemed to be needing treatment, possibly because of more awareness of the issue, she said.
"If young people are feeling insecure in any way, they're going to focus more on appearance. Some of them know that they're not overweight, but they're worried still about getting big."
Being underweight was dangerous, particularly in young people, as their brains were still developing, Dr Hall said.
"Your brain is mainly made up of fat, so if you have a lack of fat in your body your brain shrinks and you can't do things properly. That's why you have a lot of psychological changes."
Dieting was the biggest risk factor for developing an eating disorder. "There is something about restricting eating that can pull a trigger in some people that turns into an eating disorder." Instilling self-esteem would help children become more resistant to eating disorders, she said.
TREATMENT FOCUS CHANGES
Before 2005, very few children and teenagers were admitted to hospital for eating disorders, and when they were it was for short periods for rehydration and a "little bit of feeding". There was also a strong focus on psychological treatment, whereas now, when young people arrive, the focus is on refeeding and medical stabilisation before moving on to psychological aspects.
The final step in the Maudsley family-based treatment involves integrating them back into the community and their families.
On average, children and teens spend seven weeks in Wellington Hospital. During the last weeks their parents can take them to school and return them to the children's ward at night. The recovery rate was between 75 and 90 per cent, Dr Hall said. "Which is very different from adults. With them, we see maybe 30 per cent recover."
People aged over 16 are referred to the Central Region Eating Disorder Service, which has day programmes, residential beds, therapy, counselling and clinical services. New Zealand Health Minister Tony Ryall said an extra $26 million spent on eating disorder services since 2009 had doubled the number of families being helped.
"Clinicians tell me that without the extra funding for inpatient care and community treatment, including family-based therapy, these young anorexics would quite likely have ended up having to be sent to Sydney for treatment because services were inadequate here."
Nationally, 920 people were seen by specialist eating disorder teams last year, compared with 483 in 2008.
The Have I Got A Problem website is a free online resource to help people better understand any issues or concerns they may have about mental health or addiction. The website includes resources specifically focused to; general Mental Health, Depression, Stress, Anxiety, Insecurities, Self-harm Schizophrenia, Bipolar, Anger Management, Eating Disorders, Coping, general Addiction, Alcohol, Smoking, Gambling, Drugs, Cocaine, Heroin, Marijuana (Cannabis) Ecstasy, PCP, Mephedrone, Ketamine & Crystal Meth.
The site was created to give the public information to help them understand mental health and addiction issues and to assist people in making better informed decisions about their life and personal choices.
www.haveigotaproblem.com was created and is run by 'Advising Communities’, which is a UK registered charity (Charity No. 1061055)
Downloads
Quotes
Tips & Hints
Eat Meals with Family or Friends
A person who is anxious about eating will feel more comfortable doing so among other people they trust, such as family or friends. This...MoreKeep a Food Diary
Keep a food diary of what you eat and when you eat it to help you focus on eating regularly. Also record any episodes of going without ...MoreTake Regular Exercise
Studies have shown exercise to have a positive effect on low self-esteem and poor body image, which are widely cited as being contribut...MoreBe Patient
Unhealthy relationships with food do not develop overnight, and it can take many months and even years to regain full control over your...MoreEat Healthy Foods
The types of foods we eat are important. We all like to indulge in our favourite foods every once in a while, but we should also eat as...More More Tips & Hints
