So far in our eating-disorder prevention series we’ve focused on stopping eating disorders before they begin (primary prevention). But even if you put all the protective factors in place — fostering a healthy body image, having regular family meals and declaring a diet-free household — there’s still a chance your child will develop an eating disorder.

According to Sari Shepphird PhD, eating disorder specialist and author of 100 Questions & Answers About Anorexia Nervosa, eating disorders have a strong genetic connection. For example, a child whose parent suffered with an eating disorder is 12 times more likely to be diagnosed with one. And according to the National Eating Disorders Association, some individuals have altered brain chemicals making them more vulnerable to eating disorders.

“Parents can prevent a certain amount of disordered eating,” says Laura Collins author of Eating with Your Anorexic: How My Child Recovered Through Family-Based Treatment and Yours Can Too. “But some young people seem to be so deeply predisposed toward this illness that they will develop it no matter what their environment is.”

This is where “secondary prevention” comes in. It focuses on the early identification of an eating disorder – to treat this disease before it gets out of control. Shepphird explains that when caught early, persons suffering from eating disorders have the best chance of full recovery.

So with that in mind, here are three tell-tale signs that can help you catch an eating disorder early.

1. Significant changes in weight:Weight loss is almost always the first sign of an impending eating disorder. The drop in weight may be hidden from others by baggy or oversized clothes.

Some children, on the other hand, may maintain their weight but fail to gain weight or height as expected. And then others may gain quite a bit of weight, especially those prone to binge-eating disorder.

In addition to weight changes, look for a preoccupation with weight in general. You might notice your daughter commenting on how this person gained weight or that person lost it. This focus on weight is typically accompanied by a poor self body image despite a normal or low body weight.

It’s important for parents to watch how they react to their child’s changing body shape. Take it easy on the physical compliments or criticism which can add fuel to a developing eating disorder.

“I am very thankful my parents got REALLY proactive RIGHT when I started losing weight. They took me to a doctor and psychologist immediately. I can’t imagine what would have happened if they hadn’t gotten me help ASAP!” Katie, 19 year old diagnosed with an eating disorder at age 15. She blogs at Faith, Food & Fitness

2. Change in Eating: Alterations in the way your child relates to food is another red flag. Regular family meals help as you get a front seat view to how your child is eating.

Shepphird explains that skipping meals, being anxious while eating and rituals such as dividing, weighing and playing with food are all things to watch for (we’re not talking about picky toddler behavior here). Some might become a vegetarian to avoid eating. And going straight to the bathroom after meals could also be a sign of bulimia.

But you’ll also want to watch out for the most common behavior linked to eating disorders: dieting. In a 2002 study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, half of Minnesota high-school girls engaged in disordered eating patterns such as vomiting, diet pill use and laxative use.

Even if children don’t use the word “diet,” you’ll see them restricting calorie-rich foods. They often see food as either “good” or “bad” and may avoid eating socially where they have no control over the food being served.

Those who are developing a binge eating disorder may feel out of control when eating, including times where they eat much more food than would otherwise seem normal. Their weight can fluctuate but in the case of bulimia and binge eating disorder, a low body weight is uncommon.

“My mom once confronted me about weight loss pills I was taking and I freaked out and told her they were vitamins. I was young and I wish she would have been more insistent about me getting rid of them.” Jenna, 22 year old recovering dieter who blogs at Healthy. Happy. Well.

3. Excessive exercise: Using exercise as a way to purge calories is another warning sign.

George Hillinger, Clinical Exercise Specialist and Owner of the Fitness Connection, says super long cardio sessions that can go an hour and a half or longer and inappropriate exercise timing (such as running during recess or any chance they can get) can be problematic. The exercise behavior is excessive, he explains, and there’s an “I’ll burn calories at any cost” mentality.

“The biggest hurdle in what I do is to teach individuals with eating disorders that exercise is not about torture and they should not have a ‘no pain, no gain’ attitude” he says. “It’s much better if they can start at a sensible pace and find something they really enjoy doing.”

When Melissa Schlothan was in college she started running 7 miles almost daily, barely ate and got down to a meager 103 pounds (she’s 5′6″). When she returned home her family was afraid to approach her even though they were concerned about her weight.

“I definitely wish my parents had been more inquisitive when they first started to notice I had lost a lot of weight,” she says. “I think they (and I) might have been able to stop the progression of my disease sooner rather than later”

What’s a Parent to Do?
So you’ve gathered the clues and believe that your child might have an eating disorder. What exactly should you do with this information?

“A great first step for parents is to talk to their child’s pediatrician for an accurate diagnosis and guidance for getting help,” says Shepphird. “Parents also need to learn all they can about eating disorders.”

Laura Collins was in this very position when her daughter was diagnosed with an eating disorder at age 14. Her biggest issue was finding support from other parents going though the same thing. She found most parents hiding in shame mostly due to society’s tendency to blame parents.

“When parents spend all their time blaming themselves their energy is spent on the wrong things,” she says. “Parents need to realize it’s not their fault and that they need to be proactive with this very real and serious diagnosis.”

Because there was so little support for parents Collins decided to take action. Her mission is to educate the public about eating disorders. She does this through her book, blog and role as executive director of F.E.A.S.T (Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders).

The health and psychological consequences of eating disorders are significant and could even result in death either through poor health or suicide. And the worst part is eating disorders are at an all-time high.

So put into place those protective factors, arm yourself with accurate information and be on the lookout for signs and symptoms of eating disorders. And if you see some red flags, you’ll want to act fast. You won’t regret it.

“I wish my mom had been more persistent and trusted her instinct. She recognized that I had a problem and confronted me about it, but in my eating disorder-fueled rage I got so upset that she backed off completely until I was really sick. If I had gotten help at that very early stage in my eating disorder, I would have spared myself a lot of agony, physical harm, and years of very expensive and grueling treatment later on.” Stefanie, 22 year old diagnosed with anorexia at age 18. She blogs at the popular More to Life Than Lettuce

Previous: How to Maximize the Power of Family Meals

References

Croll J, Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M, Ireland M. Prevalence and risk and protective factors related to disordered eating behaviors among adolescents: relationship to gender and ethnicity. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2002:31(2);166-175.

What parent doesn’t want their kid to eat a more nutritious diet, have a healthy body weight, excel in school, stay clear of behavior problems and be less likely to develop eating disorders?  Studies show that frequent family meals are associated with all these desirable outcomes. 

Researchers are still trying to figure out what it is about family meals.  Is it the food, good nutrition, family togetherness or the structure?  While it is probably a combination of these things, one thing is for sure: the family meal is a powerful tool in raising healthy eaters.

Welcome to part 3 of our Eating Disorder Prevention series.  Last time we talked about raising children who have a healthy body image.  Now we’re going to focus on helping kids develop a healthy relationship with food.

In addition to having regular meals together as a family, there are specific things parents can do to make this ritual more positive and enjoyable. Let’s take a look…

1. Check Your Feeding Style:  Parental feeding practices are defined the same way general parenting styles are.  An authoritarian feeding style attempts to control or restrict children’s eating without regard for their preferences.  Authoritative feeding practices set respectful limits and encourage healthy eating but also consider children’s food preferences.  And permissive feeding sets few limits and allows children to decide the what, when and where of eating.

“How parents feed their children is a big factor in how kids learn to relate to food,” says Jill Castle MS, RD, pediatric nutrition specialist and owner of Pediatric Nutrition of Green Hills in Nashville, TN.  ”Controlling and permissive feeding styles can contribute to weight problems and disordered eating.”

A 2004 study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that an authoritative feeding style was associated with more nutritious diets in kids than an authoritarian feeding style. 

So it’s that middle ground you’re looking for: providing leadership at mealtime without being too controlling.  The authoritative approach is not only the most effective, it also helps everyone at the table relax and enjoy.

“I wish my parents taught me more about moderation. Aside from soda (our special Friday night treat), we had access to everything in the house. I think maybe it’s because my parents never really learned the art of moderation either, but I was a kid who could polish off a sleeve of cookies with no problem. I was never a big kid, but these habits are hard to break now that I’m older!” Amy, 24-year old who struggled with disordered eating and writes about her experiences at Second City Randomness.

2. Make Family Meals Pleasant:   
Elisabeth Armstrong, who was diagnosed with an eating disorder at 29 and chronicles her recovery on Joggers Life, remembers family meals as “dinnertime chaos.”  There was often fighting, restrictions put on her eating, a dieting mother and lots of processed and packaged foods.

“There were a lot inconsistencies and mixed messages,” she says.  “I really believe family dinners should be pleasant for kids, not negative.”

When kids have a positive association with meals, they are more likely to eat and be pleasant at the table.  But if they are stressful, kids are more likely to act out and view mealtime as a negative experience.

One way to make mealtimes more pleasant is to focus on connection, not “what” or “how much” kids are eating.  Even if you a young child isn’t interested in eating, they can stay at the table and enjoy the conversation.

“Parents have thousands of opportunities to connect with their children during mealtime,” says Castle. “That connection can be positive or negative.”

3. Create Meal Traditions:   “What kids really crave is structure,” says Abby Ellin author of Teenage Waistland: A Former Fat-Camper Weighs in on Living Large, Losing Weight, And How Parents Can (And Can’t) Help.

Rituals take the structure of family meals up a notch and make it more fun.

So if you haven’t already, start some mealtime traditions.  Maybe Fridays can be make-your-own pizza nights while Sundays are reserved for pancakes.  These rituals will create positive memories with food and meals.

But it’s important to continue meals and traditions as kids get older when eating disorders are more likely to strike. 

“I grew up with my mom and I sharing dinner together every night. She always knew what I ate for breakfast and lunch too. Around the time I started having eating disorder symptoms, she never was around to see me at meal times and never inquired about it either. I think it’s important for parents to keep an interest in how their children are eating. Tori, 19 year old college student recently diagnosed with an eating disorder.  She blogs about her recovery at Daring to Dance.

4. Provide Balanced Meals:
In this day and age there is a lot pressure to serve healthy meals.  But I think it’s better to view meals in terms of balance. That’s because extremes in either direction are no good.  The key is to provide a variety of foods that provide nutrition and good taste.  

In order to achieve balance, serve nutrient-dense foods (fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins) in greater quantities, in-between foods (higher fat dairy products, fattier meats, white bread) in more moderate quantities and fun foods (sweets and fried foods) less often.  I’ll be talking more about how to strike this balance in future posts, but every family needs to find the balance that works best for them.   

“You don´t have to make your kids eat perfectly healthy. Childhood is about not having too much obligation – and, if they´re growing and eating a regular diet they’ll be fine” Gabriela, 15 year old from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil diagnosed with anorexia at age 11. She blogs about her recovery at Fro-Yo Lover. 

5. Set the tone at the table:
Eating at the table is like being naked — everything shows.  If you are trying to diet, feel out of control with eating or are stressed about the preparation of meals it’ll be out there.

Children, of course, pick up on everything.  When I first started cooking I wasn’t really enjoying the meals because I was so stressed getting everything on the table.  I soon learned that picking easier meals was a better strategy because I was happier.  I could always make more complex dishes later.

Most parents know that they are role models for their children and might avoid eating high-calorie treats in front of them.  But authors of a recent study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, point out that it’s also important for parents to model how to moderately eat the not-so-healthy foods.  

If you struggle with eating sweets then visit our moms and parent section for help.  We’ll also be talking more about this subject in our next Parent Tip.

“I essentially learned to binge from my mom. I saw her soothe her emotions by overeating, and then it became my biggest coping mechanism.  Basically I took what I saw her doing and amplified it.” Katie, twenty-something graduate student diagnosed with binge eating disorder at age 20.  She blogs about leading a more balanced lifestyle at Health for the Whole Self.

The bottom line: pleasant and frequent family meals help children develop a healthy relationship with food. And when they grow up, they’ll be more likely to make feeding themselves a priority.

What were your eating experiences growing up?  Has it influenced how you feed your family?

References
Hubbs-Tait L, Seacord Kennedy T, Page MC, Topham GL, Harrist AW. Parental feeding practices predict authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive parenting styles. J of the Am Diet Assoc. 2008;108(7):1154-1161.

Patrick H, Nicklas TA, Hughes SO. The differential effects of authoritative and authoritarian feeding styles on eating behaviors. J of the Am Diet Assoc. 2004; 104Supplement(2):61.

Neumark-Sztainer D, Wall M, Story M, Fulkerson JA. Are family meal patterns associated with disordered eating behaviors among adolescents? J Asolesc Health. 2004;35(5):350-9.

Secrets of Feeding a Healthy Family: Orchestrating and Enjoying the Family Meal by Ellyn Satter, LCSW, RD.

It’s bath time.  My 3-year old daughter stands naked in front of the mirror dancing, singing and relishing each movement her body makes. One thing is obvious: she loves her body (and herself) in the most pure way. 

I want to keep her like this forever but I know there will come a day when she’ll mutter the dreaded words, “I look fat.”  And then, like millions of people do every day, she might even take action by dieting.

This is the second post in my eating disorders prevention series. The first article provides an eating disorder overview: definitions, statistics and potential causes. Now we are ready to address the first “preventative factor” parents can put in place.

“It’s not just about what parents don’t do,” says Sari Shepphird PhD, eating disorder specialist and author of 100 Questions & Answers About Anorexia Nervosa.  “It’s about the actions they take.”

But Shepphird makes it clear that this is not about placing blame or making parents totally responsible.  Instead, it’s giving parents the tools they need to steer their children in the right direction.

1. Focus on healthy behaviors, not weight:

Abby Ellin was 12 years old when her grandmother told her she had to lose weight before visiting her in Florida.  Like a lot of kids hitting the big P (puberty), she put on weight.   

“I was always told that I had to be thin and beautiful,” she says.  “I became obsessed with food, had days of the week for binging and other days for being good.” She spent 6 years in kids’ weight loss camp, had disordered eating patterns and writes about her experiences in Teenage Waistland: A Former Fat-Camper Weighs in on Living Large, Losing Weight, And How Parents Can (And Can’t). Help

According to a report from the Academy for Eating Disorders, focusing on weight and appearance can encourage eating disordered behaviors and negatively affect self esteem.  Instead, they encourage prevention programs to focus on healthy behaviors, not weight. 

Most health experts agree that weight should be de-emphasized in favor of healthy behaviors such as balanced eating, fewer sweetened beverages, more physical activity and minimal screen time.  This is true for all kids, not just those that carry excess weight. 

But avoiding the topic altogether may not bode well for a kid that is obviously overweight.

“Most of the parents I see are afraid to discuss weight with their child because they fear they will say the wrong thing”,” says Jill Castle, MS, RD, pediatric nutrition specialist and owner of Pediatric Nutrition of Green Hills in Nashville, TN. “Instead of avoiding the subject, they can acknowledge their child’s feelings and help him or her develop a proactive, healthy approach .” 

“I remember growing out of a pair of pants in middle school, and being scared to tell my mom because I knew she’d start with the “I’m not buying you new pants because you need to lose weight” thing. I was never actually overweight, just a little pudgy, and I know now she just wanted me to be healthy, but it put a lot of pressure on me.” Gabriela, 20-year-old college student who has recovered from an eating disorder.

2. Discourage unhealthy dieting:  

According to the Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness, almost half of 9 to 11 year olds are “sometimes” or “very often” on diets.  But even more of their family members – 82 % — are on-and-off dieters.  And because dieting is the behavior most linked to eating disorders, this is a major problem.

The first step parents can take is to have a diet-free household, meaning they don’t diet or model such behaviors.  According to a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association in 2000, 5-year old girls with dieting mothers were twice as likely to have ideas about dieting.

It’s important to remember that dieting is not good for two reasons. First, research shows it’s ineffective and is associated with weight gain over time.  And second, going on and off diets has a negative impact on quality of life. 

But even if parents don’t diet they might approach food from a diet-type mentality.

“Don’t label food as good or bad,” Castle says.  “Avoid focusing on nutrition numbers like grams of protein, fat or sugar.”

Instead, Castle explains, be neutral about sweets and empty-calorie foods.  Offer them less frequently but don’t make such a big deal out of them.  “What you want is the kid who can walk by the M-n-Ms and not even notice them or take a few and go on his merry way.” 

But even with a diet-free household, kids can be exposed to their friends’ unhealthy dieting practices.  “When I was 15 years old I learned how to throw up from a friend,” says Elisabeth Armstrong, who was diagnosed with an eating disorder in college and chronicles her recovery on her blog, Joggers Life.  “If someone stronger had been there to help me, it would have made a big difference.”

We’ll talk more about early signs and symptoms of eating disorders later, but if you suspect your child is starting down the “diet” road, talk to him or her about it.  Explain the difference between a healthy lifestyle and unhealthy dieting practices.

“I wish my mom hadn’t been so obsessed with dieting and exercise when I was little. I know it’s not her fault, but I grew up seeing food as a reward or a security blanket or even an enemy.” Shelly, college student who is recovering from disordered eating patterns. 

3. Help your child develop a positive body image:

“I think one of the best things parents can do is positive talk. Being told that you’re beautiful no matter what makes a difference!” Caronae, 20-year old girl recovering from depression and poor body image. She blogs at Runwritetherapylife.com  

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, societal factors associated with eating disorders include pressure to be thin, a narrow definition of beauty and cultural norms that value physical appearance over inner qualities. 

But how do we raise children to be satisfied with their bodies in a culture that constantly strives for perfection?

“Sit down with your child and tell them that everyone is built genetically different,” Castle says.  “Some are bigger, some are smaller and some are in between.”

Explain that the images in magazines and movies are unrealistic – and do not represent the population as a whole.  Some women may naturally be that thin, but many are not.

It’s also vital for parents to make sure their children know they are loved for who they are, even if they have a weight problem.  Of course all parents love their kids, but sometimes they can (unintentionally) send messages that make kids feel that their acceptance is tied to looking a certain way.

“My dad once told my sister that I could whoop her in a fight,” says Armstrong.  “I took that as meaning I’m the big, less attractive sister.”  She also says her parents restricted her food intake but not that of her siblings, making her feel like she wasn’t as loveable being overweight.  

And last, and maybe most important, is for parents to be a positive role model when it comes to body image.  “Parents need to do a self-check on themselves,” says Shepphird. “Kids see how parents relate to their own bodies and emulate that.”

This may be the tallest order yet.  What person do you ever hear saying, “I just love my body,” not to mention all the insecurities that come with aging.  When I find myself criticizing the way I look, I try to see myself through my kids’ eyes.  As far as they’re concerned, I’m the be-all and end-all. 

I understand this because I think my mom is one of the most beautiful women I know.  And my husband is even more attractive to me now that he is a father.  I believe the love we have for our kids, and visa versa, can help us appreciate beauty in a more rich way.

Of course there’s nothing wrong with wanting to look our best, become healthier or even lose excess weight.  But there is so much more to life than what someone looks like.  And the sooner we get that message to our kids, the better off they’ll be.

“I wish my mom had known that her lifelong dieting and body-loathing was unnecessary because she is absolutely beautiful the way she is, and the ONLY person who sees something wrong with her is her.” Beth, 17-year old girl from Australia who was diagnosed with an eating disorder last year.

Previous: 3 Things Every Parent Must Know About Eating Disorders
Nect: How to Maximize the Power of Family Meals

Resources
50 Ways to Lose the 3 Ds: Dieting, Drive for Thinness, and Body Dissatisfaction

References
Abramovitz BA, Birch LL. Five-year-old girls’ ideas about dieting are predicted by their mothers’ dieting. J Am Diet Assoc. 2000 Oct;100(10):1157-63.

Mann T, Tomiyama AJ, Westling E, Lew A, Samuels B, Chatman J. Medicare’s search for effective obesity treatments: diets are not the answer. American Psychologist. Vol 62(3), Apr 2007, 220-233.

As parents we are inundated with information about getting our kids to eat healthier. We understand there’s a childhood obesity epidemic and many of us have probably struggled with our own eating and weight to some degree.

But what we don’t hear much about is an extremely serious health issue that affects kids and adults across the globe: eating disorders.

With Eating Disorder Awareness Week fresh in our minds, it seemed the perfect time to begin my eating disorder prevention series. The articles in this series will include expert advice and revealing admissions from adults who struggled with eating disorders during adolescence. The goal is to provide you with the information you need to raise children who have a healthy relationship with food and their bodies.

But before getting into all the juicy details, there are some things you need to know first.

1) Eating disorders are not just anorexia and bulimia: If you haven’t personally dealt with eating disorders you might have some misconceptions. Maybe you associate disordered eating with the bone-thin guests who have been on talk shows like Oprah. Or you might think it is mostly a female disease, which it is not.

Through the years not only has the rate of eating disorders risen exponentially in both genders, but the types of eating disorders have expanded. What disordered eating really means is any “atypical” eating style that is detrimental to health and quality of life. We’ll get into what normal eating is later but for now let’s look at the different types of eating disorders:

Anorexia nervosa: The inability to maintain a healthy body weight (85% lower than ideal), an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted view of the body (sees self as fat).

Bulimia nervosa: Defined as someone who binges twice or more weekly in a 3-month period and uses unhealthy practices such as vomiting and laxatives to lose weight.

Binge Eating: Consumes a large amount of food in a limited amount at least twice a week. Feels out of control during eating and shame and embarrassment after eating.

The following disordered eating patterns do not meet diagnostic criteria, but individuals who suffer from them can benefit greatly from receiving help:

Eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS): An eating disorder that does not meet the exact criteria for either anorexia or bulimia but negatively affects quality of life.

Orthorexia: When a person obsesses with eating only “healthy” or “pure” foods to the point where it interferes with daily activities.

Anorexia athletica: The use of excessive exercise to control weight typically found in individuals diagnosed with anorexia or bulimia.

Purging Disorder: Self-induced vomiting or other unhealthy compensatory behaviors in the absence of binge eating

Night-eating: Lack of appetite in the morning followed by consuming half or more of calorie intake after 8pm.

2) All children are vulnerable to eating disorders: Below are some statistics that will give you an idea of how common — and detrimental — eating disorders are.

According to statistics compiled by The Alliance for Eating Disorder Awareness and the National Eating Disorders Association:
-Eating disorders affect up to 24 million Americans and 70 million individuals globally.
-At least 50,000 individuals will die as a consequence of an eating disorder.
-The rate of suicide for those with anorexia is 57 times higher than in the general population
-Males account for an estimated 10 to 15% of people who are diagnosed with anorexia or bulimia, however the actual rates may be higher.
-90% of people with anorexia or bulimia are females between the ages of 12 and 25.
-Approximately 50% of those with binge eating disorder are male.
-It has been estimated that 11% of high school students have been diagnosed with an eating disorder.
-15% of young U.S. women who are not diagnosed with an eating disorder exhibit significant disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. One survey reported that as many as 65% of young women do so! (Self Magazine)
-The most common behavior that leads to an eating disorder is dieting and almost half of 9-11 year olds are “sometimes” or “very often” on diets while over 80% of their family members are “sometimes” or “very often” on diets.

According Sari Shepphird PhD, eating disorder specialist and author of 100 Questions & Answers About Anorexia Nervosa:
-The risk of death is greater with a low BMI than a high one.
-Up to twenty percent of people with anorexia will die as a result of the illness.
-Bulimia increases by 35% every 5 years.
-Teenage boys are the highest growth segment of individuals suffering from anorexia and bulimia.
-The most common eating disorder, EDNOS, is often never diagnosed and all forms of eating disorders are under diagnosed and under treated.
-Anorexia is the 3rd most common chronic illness in adolescents (behind obesity and asthma).

3) Parents have the ability to help prevent eating disorders:
According to the National Eating Disorders Association, there are many causes of disordered eating including genetic, psychological (low self esteem), interpersonal, social and biological factors. But armed with the right information, parents can put “protective” factors in place. Each of these factors will be discussed in detail with each article in this series.

Shepphird says it is much better to prevent, or catch, eating disorder symptoms before they get full blown. By that time, only 50% of those treated will be completely cured and have no recurring symptoms. And the increased risk of death associated with eating disorders is something no parent wants to face.

When you look at the definitions in the first section, you probably can relate to at least one to some degree. These are extreme behaviors but many Americans have an unhealthy relationship with food. They feel guilty for eating food that tastes good, they are unhappy with their body shape and, yes, they diet (I used to do these things too, still working on liking my post-baby body).

I want to help create a different world for my children. A place where food is enjoyed, diets don’t exist and health, not body size, is valued. As John Lennon put so eloquently: “You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.”

Get the word out about eating disorders to other parents!  Use the “share” button below (facebook, twitter etc.).

Tune in next week as we talk about raising kids with a positive body image.

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