Clinical: Recognising eating disorders in young people and children.

An important first step is to get young people to admit to an eating disorder, says Dr Anne Thompson.

Eating disorders are a fairly rare form of child mental health disorder, but they can cause considerable morbidity in childhood and adult life.

Anorexia nervosa, which is defined as refusal to maintain body weight, intense fear of gaining weight, disturbed body image and amenorrhoea, has been reported in children as young as eight.

Bulimia nervosa, which is defined as binge eating, actions to prevent weight gain and self-evaluation unduly centred around weight and shape, is not seen until adolescence. Some young people have abnormal eating behaviours which do not fit into either diagnostic category.

Presentation

Much of the presentation of eating disorders in young people is similar to that in adults. However, there are some differences (see box, above …