Anorexia strikes 9 year old

[wife]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Severe anorexia is a disease that is usually associated with teenage girls and young women, but the disease has now struck a 9-year-old.


http://www.wsmv.com/news/14354719/detail.html

How sad. Personally I blame things like Bratz dolls!!! What are we telling our daughters?

[brownsfan1970]

I suffered from both anorexia and bulliemia and didn't play with dolls, too much of a tomboy. I can't imagine growing up in today's world with all of the twisted images of how a girl's body should look. I praise God my 13 year old is a healthy teen and not like me at her age.

[Sing4Him]

Very sad. A 9 yr old should be running outside riding their bike and playing games.

So much of the time, children are indoors and don't get to run and play like they used to. I wonder if this contributes to the progression of diseases like this.

I can remember riding my bike 2 miles from my home. My mother never worried or even questioned where I was.

[antsinmypants]

Anorexia and Bulimia have far more factors involved than dolls, magazines, tv.. etc.

Often it can be something as simple as a distorted image in one's mind when they see their reflection in the mirror, to something leading them to think their body type is not correct causing the binge/purge..

I know several people who have suffered from eating disorders, and I myself had contributing factors that had me about )( that close to bulimia because of stress at work on top of constantly being berated and teased by a few coworkers in a closed space of an area.

It was the stress that would cause me to not want to "keep" my lunch or dinner every time... and I was definitely binging. A few times I did get sick because of the stress alone.

The fear of actually developing bulemia after having a close friend who underwent severe treatments for it in Fl was about the only thing holding me back to be honest. I was scared of being hospitalized.

[wife]

I know that the dolls are not totally to blame, but what kind of message are we sending to our kids. This is a 9 YEAR OLD!!! For goodness sake they should be playing with dolls not worrying about being fat. But when we give them dolls dressed like streetwalkers, what are we telling them?

When I was 9 I didn't even know what fat was!!

[Bamagirl]

She has a myspace site - it seems she has always had the problem but the death of her grandad spiralled it out of control. From what I understand she has a fear of eating with anyone around, thus the weight loss from school.
My 6 yo sid she was anorexic, I asked her what that meant, she said its when I think I am fat but people are always telling me I am skinny. She pinches fat on her wheere she can find it. This child is thin as a rail and tall. I didn't take her seriously, but maybe I should????? I was annorexic at one time. When I got pregnant with her I had lost down to about 87 pounds. I took diet pills for meals for the two months before I found out I was pregnant.
Praying for this little girl and her family.

[wife]

I looked at her site. It is sad that the insurance won't help pay for her to get treatment. Things could get much worse as she gets older.

[smileychick]

I looked at her site. It is sad that the insurance won't help pay for her to get treatment. Things could get much worse as she gets older.

I agree completely! This is so sad and she definately needs prayer:pray

[antsinmypants]

She has a myspace site - it seems she has always had the problem but the death of her grandad spiralled it out of control. From what I understand she has a fear of eating with anyone around, thus the weight loss from school.
My 6 yo sid she was anorexic, I asked her what that meant, she said its when I think I am fat but people are always telling me I am skinny. She pinches fat on her wheere she can find it. This child is thin as a rail and tall. I didn't take her seriously, but maybe I should????? I was annorexic at one time. When I got pregnant with her I had lost down to about 87 pounds. I took diet pills for meals for the two months before I found out I was pregnant.
Praying for this little girl and her family.

Definitely look into it. It's worth checking into if she has an issue. I found that it tends to be something in families from what I am reading and finding out about friends and my own family.

My brother recently informed me of a bout with bulimia, and I know extended relatives by marriage or extended family of my cousins having anorexia and bulimia...

I have a friend whose mother battled with anorexia and still has a bad body image and projects that on her girls, which now struggle with being a healthy weight and are in their 20s..

My issues never stemmed from dolls or magazines... it was stress and constantly being the 'problem child' of my department (in the eyes of three coworkers) though I was the best worker they had, and excelling above the others.. not to mention working after hours scheduled and coming in on days off to fill in.....

I can easily get back into the groove when under severe stress, and it's a scary thought because it doesn't have to do with how I look at mself. I know I am healthy, and I honestly do not keep a mirror in my half bathroom where all my earrings and accessories are, and I purposely do not look in the mirror unless I am doing my hair or makeup or removing it (which isn't often).

I think mirrors are an enemy and I just have to like myself without seeing myself :)

I grew up with barbies as well as 'my family' kind of toys, weebils and regular baby dolls. IMHO none of those harmed my mental image of myself, though I admit Barbie needs a reduction and more meat on her bones (legs and waist)... and they have done some of that.

For me, the biggest issue is the clothing stores. They honestly just don't sell clothes my size most the time... and when you go in for help, the sales ladies do not hold back snide comments about where you should shop if you are above a size 10. :ohno

[wife]

I am wondering if this disease is much like any other addictive disease. AIP said that she knows of other family members who have struggled with them. My mom's family are all alcoholics, well we don't drink but we have weight issues. I guess some people turn to food, and others turn away from it to deal with life... Something to think about