The signs to watch out for
Does your child constantly make excuses for not eating?
Have you found food hidden?
Does your child exhibit bizarre food rituals or behaviours?
Does your child read a lot of magazines pertaining to weight loss?
Has your child lost or gained a lot of weight in a short space of time?
Does your child constantly berate him/herself for being too thin, too fat, eating too much?
Has school performance changed?
Does your child want to cook, bake and feed others?
Does your child weigh him/herself frequently and panic at the idea of being away from a weighing scales?
What to do
Listen to your child.
Realise that you can't force him/her to change. Only your child can do that.
Understand your child's fear of weight and fat.
Remove weighing scales and diet books from the house.
Get advice from a professional who has experience dealing with eating disorders and the specific skills necessary.
What not to do
Don't argue with your child or get angry.
Don't use labels such as anorexic, bulimic, overeater, as this can worsen the problem.
Don't lecture, nag or force your child to eat or to stop exercising. Leave that to the professional.
Don't refer to "good" and "bad" foods.
Remember that dieting is a learned behaviour and children learn by your example.
Source: The Eating Disorder Resource Centre of Ireland. Log on to www.eatingdisorders.ie