Editor’s Note:   Here is an excellent article by the Washington Post that was published yesterday under the title “Here’s How to Get Your Kids to Eat Well, and Avoid Eating Disorders.”   It would be an excellent share for the parents and guardians of your kiddos.

[Source:  Washington Post]

A friend’s 8-year-old daughter packs her own lunch for school. One day, her dad noticed that lunch consisted of a single cherry tomato, one slice of apple and one spoonful of yogurt. When asked, the child replied that she didn’t think she’d be hungry at school.

My friend wanted to know: Was this the beginning of problem eating?

Eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating most commonly emerge during the adolescent years, says Claire Mysko, the chief executive of the National Eating Disorders Association. “But we’re hearing about younger and younger cases,” she says.

How young? As young as 5 years old, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, which updated its guidelines on preventing eating disorders and obesity in teenagers last year. Approximately half of teenage girls and a quarter of teenage boys are dissatisfied with their bodies, according to the AAP.

“The stereotype is of a young white thin girl. It’s a common misperception,” Mysko says. “These illnesses occur in all sizes, all races, all genders, all ages.”

Read the Rest of this Article on Washington Post.com