Obesity And Anorexia - What's The Connection?
Preventing Eating Disorders And Obesity In Children

Obesity and anorexia seem like polar opposties, but eating disorders and obesity in children are threats to their overall physical and mental health. Is it possible that being obese could set anorexia in motion?

Overweight children tend to endure more teasing and verbal bullying than children who are in their normal weight range.

This kind of weight prejudice, especially if it is on-going, could be enough to be defined as one of the many anorexia triggers. This is why eating disorders and obesity are issues that need to be addressed.

Anyone who is ridiculed because of their body shape or overall appearance is inevitably vulnerable to developing a negative body image and dieting behavior that may border on obsessive. The person may waiver between obesity and anorexia.

These experiences foster poor self esteem and feelings of rejection. Children may feel as if their world is spiraling out of control.

After all, they cannot control verbal bullying - i.e. the actions of the kids who say hateful things. They also might have a difficult time coping with the magnitude of their own emotions.

Some children may verbally lash out, misbehave, or perhaps become physically violent in retaliation. Other children will keep their feelings hidden, bury them, and suffer in silence. Kids might even show signs of binge eating disorder as a passive-aggressive way to get back at their aggressors -- "I'll show you, I'll just eat more!"

Obesity And Anorexia - Suffering In Silence

The children who are on the line between obesity and anorexia usually suffer in silence, and are quite possibly the most tricky to deal with. The reasons are pretty obvious -- you have no idea what they are thinking, or how they feel about anything.

In these instances, it's all too easy for them to begin using food as a way to manage their emotions.

Obviously, children will always have access to food at some point during any given day. It's impossible to predict whether someone will (sub-consciously) decide to restrict their food intake -- as in anorexia nervosa, or try to soothe themselves with food -- as in binge eating.

Studies and the history of eating disorders have shown us that a good percentage of women with anorexia and body image disturbances were likely teased or harassed as young children for being overweight or obese.

Preventing Childhood Obesity And Anorexia

Preventing childhood obesity and anorexia at the same time requires riding a fine line, as well as a depth of understanding and sensitivity towards both health issues.

Some researchers debate the overall effectiveness of national school food programs that advocate for healthier school lunches and speak out vehemently against the number of obese children in our society.

The argument is that these programs only address one aspect of the problem, and they certainly do not address the issue of obesity in children who also have a history of eating disorders in their family -- such as a mother, father or sibling.

This in itself can greatly affect a child's view of food and eating habits, but add the message in most of these programs into the mix -- like the example of the many illnesses you could suffer if you get fat.

You might get heart disease, diabetes, hypotension... and the list goes on.

Although it is somewhat of a scare tactic (whatever works!), the issues are very real. However, to someone who is already sensitive to, or who has witnessed first hand how to cut foods of every kind from their diet, they may take it too far.

Over time, they may not know how, or when to stop. This would be especially true if they start getting compliments for how good they look after losing a few pounds. The complexities of obesity and anorexia become evident. The social acceptance gained from those comments could send a child or teen into a tailspin.

Many people feel confused and worried by the messages that public health officials are trying to convey to us. On one hand it's all about preventing obesity in children. They say things like, Don't let your child get fat!", claiming that he/she might develop any number of health problems, and lead a miserable existence.

On the other hand, the message is that we shouldn't say or do things to draw attention to a child's weight because that will trigger an eating disorder.

Obesity and anorexia are definitely complex issues, but what's your take on the messages conveyed by obesity prevention programs? Do you feel as if you're getting mixed messages?

Feel free to "weigh in" (sorry, I had to go there!) at the Eating Disorder Forum.
I'd love to know what you think!

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