A study found that young children are increasingly being diagnosed with eating disorders.  Children as young as eight years old were being diagnosed with anorexia and most children being diagnosed were eleven- many of them being admitted to a hospital.  At least 50 percent of the children tested had severe issues with starvation.  They were unable to maintain a normal heart rate or blood pressure or temperature, to the point that these kids were at risk of dying from their eating disorders.  An eight year old with anorexia is scary to me... I've had problems with the way I ate in the past, but none of it started until I was at least in high school.  But I never got to the point of hospitalization.  Eight years old.. even eleven is too young to be worrying about your weight.  They're going to stunt their growth and probably have a lifelong battle with their body image.

How are these kid's parents letting them get that skinny where they have to be forcefed.  Anorexia isn't easy to beat, it's basically a disease, a horrible relationship with the food you eat.  I think eating disorders around the world are increasing, which is weird because fashion models are gaining weight.  In Europe, they no longer allow models below 18.5 BMI.  But there is a lot more pro ana site online that still need to be banned!

The eating habits of your parents influence a lot how we eat.  If you mom has a negative body image, then you're more than likely going to feel the same way about your body.  My mom always told me how beautiful my legs were and that I have a wonderful shape.  Even at times when I completely disagreed with her, the advice and support she showed me saved me problems with unhealthy eating.  It's important to show your kids how to have a healthy relationship with food.  I cannot be on a diet around my mom, she loves to cook for me and make sure I'm eating.  But she also encourages me to work out, which is good too.

Beachbum I think you're right about the whole mom interpretation about how girls eat.  Unfortunately my mom wasn't always the best at giving compliments, probably because her mom wasn't either.  If she saw that I was gaining weight, then she'd give me really small portions of food, even if I was really hungry.  And if any of my friends came over, she would give them really small portions so that I wouldn't feel weird.  I sort of understand why she was like that, she just has really high expectations for me.  But I feel healthy and I don't let my mom influence me in a negative way.