Parents are Key in Preventing an Eating Disorder
What can you do if you are the parent of a child with an eating disorder? Eating disorders are complex conditions that is difficult to treat. In many cases, an eating disorder will develop slowly over time, with symptoms progressively become more difficult.
Many times, the compulsive nature of eating disorder most of the early stages of the disease become apparent. It is in these early stages that the intervention is most possible.
Parents play a key role in preventing eating disorders in their children. As parents, you are the most important role model for your children. Here are six ways you can prevent such an eating disorder from developing in your family.
1st Be positive about your own body. Avoid negative statements about your how you look. Children learn from you, and can start your own dissatisfaction levels. Be aware that when you show concern or excessive concern about your weight and appearance, your children can begin to mirror this behavior. Even if you do not defeat your own weight obsession, do not try them on to your children.
2nd If your child expresses concern about his weight, to remind him that the people of all shapes and sizes. Remind him that is not physical appearance of the most important thing about their identity, and beauty is not necessarily by how thin they are defined.
3rd Avoid the idea of not “perfect.” Studies have shown that people who consider themselves perfectionists are more prone to developing an eating disorder. In this sense, parents should not put too much pressure on their children to be “perfect”. While all parents should encourage their children in many areas of life, Excel, they should refrain from pressure on their children in the role of sports stars or Student Achiever. Parents should be the ruling in her own instinct to give a perfectionist, they can convey an unconscious fears in perfect way for her own children.
4th Model healthy behavior for your children. Children have so much of what you say and do, even if you think they are not paying attention. Modeling healthy behavior ie, preparing healthy meals, and always some form of regular exercise. Bring your children to eat different types of foods and eat in moderation. Let them not feel guilty for eating certain foods. It also teaches that the exercise need not be strenuous, but can something that is fun.
5th will receive the news about your children’s peer groups, informed, TV, movies, fashion magazines, and other influences in their lives. Find out how your children interpret messages from their friends and the media. Discuss this news with them. Many children and young adults get their idea of beauty from news media and peers. If this is the case, talk to your kids about the unrealistic standards that seem to convey these messages, and work to counteract these messages.
Tags: disorder, eating, parents, Preventing