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Act early on eating disorder warning signs: Study
New Australian research aims to help GPs and parents to close the gap between onset and diagnosis of a child’s eating disorder.
It is estimated that every year, around one in three adolescents in Australia is impacted by disordered eating.
Eating disorders can affect any person, of any age and of any background. However, experts say the seeds for most cases are sown in a person’s adolescence.
It is estimated that every year, around one in three adolescents in Australia is impacted by disordered eating.
But the warning signs are not always obvious to parents or caregivers, with the delay in diagnosis taking, on average, 5.28 years.
However, a new study, led by Flinders University and published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, hopes to enable earlier detection and intervention for carers and GPs alike.
The study’s lead author, eating disorder expert Dr Jamie-Lee Pennesi, says more young children are being diagnosed with eating disorders than ever before.
‘Spotting the early signs of an eating disorder in a child can be difficult, because it can start very innocently with subtle changes to their habits,’ she said.
The study was informed by caregiver and consumer perspectives on early warning signs of disordered eating shared across 62 websites that met criteria for eligibility.
Synthesising the information, the study identified 10 crucial early warning signs of disordered eating in adolescents:
- Excessive or compulsive exercise
- Obvious weight loss or gain
- Obsession or preoccupation with food or food preparation
- Cutting out major food groups
- Secrecy or dishonesty around food or eating
- Obsession or preoccupation with body image, weight, shape and size
- Self-induced vomiting or making themselves sick
- Changes in bathroom habits
- Skipping meals
- Rituals and rules about food and eating.
RACGP Specific Interests Child and Young Persons Health Chair, Dr Tim Jones, said the reasons for delays in diagnosis of eating disorders are complex, but that parental denial and GPs not enquiring are ‘two areas where we can do better’.
He told
newsGP it is important for GPs to support parents in being aware of their children’s interests and behaviours so that they can all follow a proactive and non-judgmental approach.
‘Proactive discussions between the parent and young person and between the family and a trusted GP are important,’ Dr Jones said.
‘I put these discussions in the same space as discussing safe sex, drug and alcohol use and self-injury behaviour – areas that GPs continue to get better and better at.
‘It’s also important to acknowledge that many parents may have a history of some disordered eating themselves, so as GPs we are very well placed to have a “whole-of-family” focus and see parents separately to explore their own history and current beliefs safely.’
Dr Jones said that, if detected and diagnosed early, disordered eating has an ‘excellent prognosis’ for full recovery, but ‘our patients won’t tell us unless we ask’.
‘As a first step in enquiring I simply ask, “how is your relationship with food and exercise?” and “does this impact your self-esteem?”,’ he said.
‘Recognising these behaviours early and responding to them respectfully will lead to far better outcomes then waiting for a full eating disorder to evolve in the patient.’
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