While anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders often surface during adolescence, girls (and boys) can show signs of trouble much earlier."Catching these problems quickly can prevent a lifelong struggle," said Jill Layne, a licensed clinical social worker with Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk, Va.
Some red flags:
She's obsessed with weight. A child might voice an intense fear of gaining weight, comment about feeling fat when she's a normal size or, if she is overweight, become fixated on that fact.
She sneaks or hoards food. You might find discarded wrappers in her room or notice she's ashamed of what she's eaten.
She makes excuses for not eating. She says she had a big lunch or ate right before coming home. She prefers eating alone.
Her eating and exercise habits become extreme. A child might refuse anything but low-calorie options -- which can alternate with binges on favorite "bad" foods -- and constantly try to burn off calories: running in front of the television, say, or going for a jog after a long sports practice.
Her appearance starts to change. A child might or might not lose weight. If she's not getting enough calories, her hair and skin will dry out and her energy levels will fall.
She follows "rituals" at meals. Anorexics might cut food into tiny pieces or keep different items from touching each other. Bulimics will go to the bathroom immediately after meals to purge.
