![Team in the eating disorders program](https://www.hamiltonhealthsciences.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Eating-Disorder-Program-Dr.-Natasha-Johnson-Dr.-Jennifer-Couturier-MCH-21.12.02-Web-Size-014-1024x683.jpg)
Help is here if your child is struggling with eating
During the COVID-19 pandemic, demand across Hamilton Health Sciences’ McMaster Children’s Hospital (MCH) child and youth mental health programs has been unprecedented.
![Natasha Johnson](https://www.hamiltonhealthsciences.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Eating-Disorder-Program-Dr.-Natasha-Johnson-Dr.-Jennifer-Couturier-MCH-21.12.02-Web-Size-020-150x150.jpg)
Dr. Natasha Johnson
The pediatric eating disorders program is at the top of that list. Referrals and admissions have exploded, up 90 per cent and 50 per cent respectively from pre-pandemic levels.
Dr. Natasha Johnson, pediatrician and medical co-director of MCH’s eating disorders program, shares some helpful tips for parents and caregivers who think their child may be experiencing an eating disorder.
What to look for
- Changes to a child’s weight. Adolescence is a period of physical growth and children should not be maintaining or losing weight
- Low blood pressure or low heart rate
- Mood changes or irritability
- Over-exercising
- If the child is a picky eater, is the pickiness changing or becoming more restrictive?
- A child choosing to eat alone, not with their family
- Sudden changes to a child’s diet “outside the family context,” for example, becoming vegan with no previous desire or similar influences in the home or family’s circle
What you can do if you’re concerned
- Book an appointment with your family doctor for an assessment.
- Limit all physical activity while waiting for the assessment.
- Monitor, address and/or have a conversation about the activity that is causing the stress or harm, for example, over exercising, dietary changes, etc.
- Supervise what your child is eating by having mealtime together.
- Avoid making “good/bad” judgements about food. Practice balance and moderation in meal planning.
- Seek advice from a registered dietician with experience in pediatric eating disorders.
- Seek additional resources and support from other parents.
Resources for parents
McMaster Children’s Hospital Eating Disorder Program
National Eating Disorder Information Centre
National Initiative for Eating Disorders
Maudsley Parents