Parental role in preventing eating disorders

MORE eating disorders could be prevented if parents recognised their child’s obsession with dieting was a cause for concern, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist has claimed.

While it was necessary to treat eating disorders, there must be a shift in focus to prevent the onset of the disorder, said Professor Fiona McNicholas.

The introduction of social, personal and health education into schools might go some way towards improving self-image and self-esteem among Irish school children, she suggested. But, she said, health professionals also needed to play a role in preventing and detecting unhealthy eating attitudes and behaviours.