One third of Australian adolescents engage in disordered eating: study

CANBERRA, May 13 (Xinhua) -- About one in three Australian adolescents, or 31.6 percent, engage in disordered eating behaviors each year, a new research by Flinders University said on Tuesday.

The study identified the top 10 early warning signs of childhood eating disorders and urges families to seek help before symptoms escalate, the Adelaide-based university said in a press release.

Eating disorders can impact anyone, but they most often begin during adolescence and may rapidly develop into severe, even life-threatening conditions, according to the study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, based in the United States.

"Spotting the early signs of an eating disorder in a child can be difficult, because it can start very innocently with subtle changes to their habits," said the study's lead author Jamie-Lee Pennesi.

"If these behaviors aren't addressed, they can quickly develop into serious eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa," said Pennesi, a Flinders University eating disorder expert.

The most common early signs the study outlines include excessive, compulsive, or secretive exercise, noticeable weight changes, obsession with food or food preparation, cutting out major food groups, dishonesty about eating, preoccupation with body image, self-induced vomiting, frequent bathroom visits after meals and skipping meals.

Flinders University Tracey Wade who has been working as a clinician in the area of eating disorders for 30 years said many parents delay seeking support due to a lack of awareness or underestimating the severity of early symptoms. Enditem