Warning on childhood anorexia

Sarah Dingle reported this story on Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Source: http://www.abc.net.au

TONY EASTLEY: It's fair to say I think that Australians have never before been so informed, lectured or badgered about their weight.

One latest diet is replaced almost immediately by another and specific television shows make it their mission to have people lose weight.

But could it be that those sort of television programmes are creating a counter-epidemic of underweight children?

That's a concern raised by a leading Sydney specialist, who says children as young as eight are being hospitalised with Anorexia Nervosa.

The number of children admitted for eating disorders has trebled over the last decade.

Westmead Hospital's Dr Sloane Madden told Sarah Dingle parents need to be careful not to over-hype the dangers of childhood obesity.

SLOANE MADDEN: The children we're admitting, they're almost exclusively anorexia nervosa. So these are children who've lost large amounts of weight, often very quickly. And the children who we're having to admit are those with really life threatening complications of their malnutrition.

These children are potentially at risk of dying, so when they come to us they've got very low heart rates, they're unable to maintain a normal blood pressure or temperature - so really struggling just to manage basic vital functions.

We've seen children in general anywhere between about eight to 15, with the average age of our admissions being between 12 and 13 years of age.
...Continue reading here.
**********************************************************
What are warning signs to be aware of in children that may suggest they are struggling with an eating disorder?