Childhood anorexia is an eating disorder in which the child refuses to eat, and the signs and symptoms of this type of disorder may appear from the beginning of life. In addition to constantly refusing to eat, the child may experience a lot of anxiety, vomiting or fasting for very long periods of time, for example.
Constant food refusal is often a way of gaining attention from parents and, therefore, insisting on eating can further aggravate symptoms and lead to childhood anorexia.
It is important that the signs and symptoms of anorexia in children are identified early on, as this means that the pediatrician, together with the psychologist, can establish the best treatment for the child.
Signs that may indicate anorexia in a child
The main signs and symptoms that may indicate childhood anorexia are:
- Constant refusal to eat or at certain times of the day;
- Do prolonged fasting;
- Have a lot of anxiety;
- Presenting sadness and disinterest, which may indicate depression;
- Have weakness;
- Vomiting after eating, in some cases;
- Thinking you’re fat, even though you’re thin.
In the presence of these symptoms, it is recommended that parents seek guidance from their pediatrician, so that the signs and symptoms presented by the child can be investigated and appropriate treatment can be established in order to promote the child’s adequate development.
Causes of childhood anorexia
Childhood anorexia itself, in which the child is already worried about not gaining weight from a very early age, is closely related to the behavior and example of parents, friends and television in relation to food, especially when there are already people with anorexia in the family, since it is from them that the child can learn or hear negative comments such as that food makes you fat or that food is bad.
Furthermore, childhood anorexia may also be related to verbal abuse and aggression towards the child, or other situations in which the child becomes preoccupied with his body.
However, there are other causes of loss of appetite that are more common, and may be associated with problems, such as:
- Teeth growth;
- Illnesses;
- Irritability;
- Anxiety;
- Depression;
- Intake of medicines;
- Indigestion;
- Fear of trying something new.
Another important cause of loss of appetite is the presence of bad eating habits in the family, where there is no set time to eat, or when the child has become accustomed to eating only sweets. In this case, it is not anorexia as such, but rather selective eating syndrome, a situation in which the child only eats some foods, having an aversion to others. Learn more about picky eating disorder.
Furthermore, between 12 and 24 months, it is normal for the child to start eating much less than they ate before, this being a normal condition called physiological anorexia in the second year of life. And to prevent this situation from lasting any longer, parents need to let the child eat as much food as they want, whenever they want.
How the treatment is carried out
To treat childhood anorexia, it is important that the child is monitored by a psychotherapist, pediatrician and nutritionist, as it is necessary to identify the cause of anorexia in addition to promoting changes in the child’s eating habits. Furthermore, as it is a slow process and can be quite exhausting for the child, it is essential that they have family support.
The use of medication, such as antidepressants, may be necessary when the child has severe depression or anxiety, and is advised by a child psychiatrist. Hospitalization may be necessary when the lack of food causes the child’s physical health to be compromised, such as anemia or difficulty walking, for example.
Treatment must be carried out as quickly as possible, as soon as the disease is identified, because, despite being temporary in most cases, anorexia can worsen and cause other more serious psychological disorders, such as obsessive compulsive disorder and severe depression.
How to make your child eat better
It is recommended to offer the child a healthy and balanced diet, however it is important to let the child eat as much food as they want, as this is a way of making them more comfortable with food. This way, it is possible for the child to keep in mind that eating is a pleasure and not an obligation, improving the anorexia condition.
The child should not be forced to eat, nor should the child be offered tasty but not very nutritious foods, such as ice cream, French fries, cookies or chocolate after the child refuses a plate of food.
