Eating disorders are serious conditions marked by severe disturbances to one’s eating and dietary habits, as well as related thoughts and feelings. These can negatively impact a patient’s health and emotions, and even interfere with their ability to carry out daily functions owing to inadequate nutrition.

Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating, while other less-common conditions include rumination disorder, pica disorder, and avoidant or restrictive food-intake disorder. See below for further information.

Those who suffer from an eating disorder are generally obsessed with looking a certain way, or turn to food as a form of coping mechanism. For parents, it is important to keep an eye out on signs and symptoms of such conditions in your young ones.

Here are some steps you can take to ward off the onset of eating disorders.

1. Leave a good impression

Children pick up habits from their parents through observational learning, so it is important for parents to demonstrate love and appreciation for themselves and others. Talk to your kids about self-image and offer reassurance that body shapes vary, with no such thing as the “perfect figure”.

Mums and dads should place higher importance on accomplishments and reinforceable attitudes instead of complimenting their children’s appearance. At the same time, they should avoid external factors that promote an unrealistic body image, or the idea that extreme dieting and being thin is the key to happiness.

Healthy eating habits can also be promoted by preparing nutritious and well-balanced meals at home. It is also good to teach children to only eat when they are hungry and to stop when they are full.

2. Be aware of abnormal eating patterns

Here are common red flags that people with eating disorders share, which could help you take appropriate measures early:

• skipping meals or making excuses to not eat;
• taking part in vigorous, extreme exercise for long hours daily;
• withdrawing from social activities;
• self-body shaming or always talking about wanting to be thin;
• use of dietary supplements or laxatives;
• looking pale and always being tired due to malnutrition;
• leaving during meals to use the toilet;
• repeatedly indulging in large amounts of sweets or high-fat food;

consuming more food in a meal or snack than is considered normal.

If your children display any of the above, talk to them and express your concern. Be non-judgemental and offer them a listening ear; it is important that they feel heard and seen.

You might also wish to refer to your family doctor for professional help.

3. Avoid commenting on physical changes

Try not to make direct comments about your children’s appearance. Instead of pointing out that they have put on weight, incorporate nutritious ingredients in their meals, and plan more outdoor activities to get them moving.

This way, you not only protect them from being triggered and hurt their self-esteem, you also introduce them to a healthy lifestyle.

Similarly, don’t comment or judge the bodies of others in front of them as this may make them feel you have high expectations when it comes to appearance. In turn, they may develop unnecessary self-consciousness that others may judge them the way you do.

Educate your children that what matters most is who they are on the inside, rather than how others perceive them or the way they look.

4. Nurture healthy coping mechanisms

Research shows that children with higher levels of stress hormones are less healthy physically and tend to put on more weight from binge-eating, making them more vulnerable to eating disorders.

Parents should help their young ones deal with stress through positive approaches such as getting adequate sleep, listening to music, or practising meditation, rather than turning to food for comfort.

That said, treating an eating disorder is not easy and takes time. Nipping the problem in the bud can help prevent further unwanted consequences.

And although you may not be able to prevent a disorder from developing, the act of reaching out with kindness and compassion goes a long way.

This article was written by DOC2US, a mobile application that allows you to talk to a doctor or any healthcare professionals via text chat at any time and from anywhere.