Some young people may restrict the amount of calories they will allow themselves to eat in one day.
Other young people will only allow themselves to eat once they have exercised.
For some, period of overeating, called a binge, may be followed by self induced vomiting and other purging behaviours.
Another group of children may struggle with the texture and sensations of food and this will lead to different reasons to restrict their dietary intake.
Physical health can become rapidly compromised by these behaviours
Prompt intervention is needed, with assessment and ongoing close supervision by family, guided by therapists and psychiatry in order to prevent deterioration.
These difficulties need to be taken seriously.
Seeking help for an eating disorder can be a very difficult thing to do as a family. Often parents worry that they will cause a deterioration in an already fragile young person.
Please do you seek urgent medical care from your GP if you are in any way concerned about your child's health and seek an assessment as soon as possible in order to reach the best long term outcomes.
Treatment varies with each case but usually involves family therapy, emotion recognition work, dietician support, anxiety management and sometimes medication is required.
