Rate of Eating Disorders in Kids Keeps Rising

[HuckleB]

Source: U.S.News & World Report

Eating disorders have risen steadily in children and teens over the last few decades, with some of the sharpest increases occurring in boys and minority youths, according to a new report.

In one startling statistic cited in the report, an analysis by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that hospitalizations for eating disorders jumped by 119 percent between 1999 and 2006 for kids younger than 12.

At the same time as severe cases of anorexia and bulimia have risen, so too have "partial-syndrome" eating disorders -- young people who have some, but not all, of the symptoms of an eating disorder. Athletes, including gymnasts and wrestlers, and performers, including dancers and models, may be particularly at risk, according to the report.

"We are seeing a lot more eating disorders than we used to and we are seeing it in people we didn't associate with eating disorders in the past -- a lot of boys, little kids, people of color and those with lower socioeconomic backgrounds," said report author Dr. David Rosen, a professor of pediatrics, internal medicine and psychiatry at University of Michigan. "The stereotype is of an affluent white girl of a certain age. We wanted people to understand eating disorders are equal-opportunity disorders."

Read more: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/brain-and-behavior/articles/2010/11/29/rate-of-eating-disorders-in-kids-keeps-rising.html

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These conditions can be incredibly difficult to treat. I hope we can begin to understand the causes, ASAP.

[xchrom]

1. a sad recommend. nt

[HuckleB]

4. A sad thanks.

[siligut]

2. A sad commentary on our superficial society

Although eating disorders have been identified as being more of a control issue, than a body image one, from this article, it seems that analysis is being reevaluated.

[peace13]

3. Maybe the brain can sense that the body is being poisoned?

Who knows what the chemicals and antibiotics in our food chain do to the young ones!

[Rebubula]

5. Preach on...

..I have been railing for 2 decades about just such a thing.

The human race is creating all sorts of ripples in evolution with the chemicals\pharmies etc in our food and medicine.

[CountAllVotes]

6. a friend's daughter has this problem

It is very sad and it is shameful that her parents don't seem to care to recognize it. The once bone thin 90 lb. teenager is now a 21+ year old married adult. She has failed to develop is all any one will say. :(

When the parents won't admit that their child has a serious problem, the problem goes on untreated. Risk of death is very high and other problems will develop as her likely short life continues.

Frankly, I believe that the parents have contributed greatly to this young woman's problems. All she heard growing up is fat this and fat that ... blah blah blah FAT FAT FAT :puke:

:dem:

[HuckleB]

8. A family's food culture may be a big part of the equation.

Of course, then how do we figure out how much that family food culture is affected by genes? The puzzle is a difficult one.

Thanks for sharing this story.

[grilled onions]

7. Feast or Fast

While many who have eating disorders come from homes where food is never a problem how many are now having a new problem called feast or famine? During certain days of the month(school days,wage/aid check days) some kids can eat fairly well and when opportunity arises(like a party where food is ample) they certainly may gorge. But on those days,at the end of the month,days off from school they find food in short supply and their bodies start going into fast mode. This is bound to create eating problems as they grow up.