Abstract: The full syndrome of anorexia nervosa remains relatively rare in children. However, it does exist and can represent a very serious threat to physical and emotional health, as well as being potentially fatal. A view often expressed, but not substantiated by research findings, is that early onset anorexia nervosa (that is, onset between the ages of 8-14 years) is of less concern or somehow less serious than the later onset variant. Unfortunately, many physicians’ response to the early stages of the disorder is that the child is presenting with nothing more than awkward, manipulative behaviour that can safely be ignored. Others believe that eating disorders simply do not occur in children, and do not realise that boys account for approximately one quarter of reported clinical series of children with anorexia nervosa.’ The aim of this short article is to stress that, although uncommon, anorexia nervosa is a potentially extremely damaging disorder in children of both sexes, and to highlight some of the specific considerations relating to its recognition and management in this younger age group.
Publication Year: 1993
Publication Date: 1993-12-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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