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Even five year olds are in the throes of eating disorders

by Savitha C Muppala on Nov 12 2006 4:01 PM

A survey conducted among pre-teens, under 13, has revealed that nearly hundreds of them are being diagnosed with anorexia and bulimia.

The survey showed that some children had to be admitted to the hospital for nasal feeding and in a sad case, a child succumbed to kidney failure due to acute eating disorder. The sufferers were generally around 11 years old, barring one who was a five year old boy.

Steve Bloomfield, spokesman for the Eating Disorders Association, said, “It is obviously a matter of concern where youngsters are being affected by these problems.But it is very hard to know what is behind this. It does show the need for much more research into how and why this is happening.”

Grainne Smith, of North East Eating Disorders Support Needs, said “You mostly hear about eating disorders as starting at the average age, which is about teenage to 25 years, but it can affect anyone of any age. I read recently about one woman who developed it in her 40s.”

All the emphasis regarding an hour glass figure and superficial beauty has percolated to the pre-teens as well, and the recent finding is a fallout of the prevailing pressure on sporting a perfect figure.



Source-Medindia
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