Anorexia is increasingly common in young children. What do you do if you suspect that your daughter has anorexia?
The numbers
The latest official figures on anorexia are from 2006. 24 percent of children with anorexia were 14 years or younger at the time. Since then, the numbers have only increased. Of the 150 children who each year end up in an eating disorder center, about 40 percent are 13 years old or younger.
Anorexia in children
Children stop eating much more abruptly, perhaps because they don't really understand the consequences of not eating yet. The damage caused by anorexia to children is even greater than to older people.
Has my daughter anorexic? If you suspect that your daughter (or son) has anorexia, that is very difficult. In any case, don't get angry. If your daughter is indeed anorexic, she's already in a lot of trouble. Adding an angry mother probably won't have the effect you want to achieve.
Follow your instinct
If you feel there is something wrong with your daughter's diet, just follow your instincts. You don't get these signals for nothing. Keep a close eye on her diet for a while. In addition, try to discover what drives your daughter. Is she insecure about herself? How does she feel about food and about her body? An eating disorder is often not so much about the food itself, it usually has an underlying reason such as control.
Turn on help
Seek help and get expert advice. If necessary, visit your doctor first, who can give you advice on how to approach and help your daughter.
Long road
Does your daughter indeed have anorexia or another eating disorder, then there is still a long way to go. A road full of challenges and obstacles, not only for your child but also for you. Get professional help and show that you care. You want the best for her, although it won't get through to your child at that moment.
On the website of Gezondheidsnet, three experts give useful advice. Read the article.
Have a look at the website of the Anorexia Bulimia Nervosa Foundation.
What would you do if you suspected that your child has anorexia?
