Housecall: The Rise of Eating Disorders in Our Kids: What Parents Need to Know
Eating disorders are not just about food; they’re about control, fear, and deep-seated emotional pain. As parents, it’s our instinct to protect and nurture, but recognizing the signs of an eating disorder can be incredibly challenging. According to a recent study, girls as young as 6 years old begin to worry about their weight, and by age 14, 60-70% are actively trying to lose weight. In this episode, we are joined by adolescent medicine experts who specialize in pediatric eating disorders: Jennifer Northridge, M.D., who leads the adolescent medicine program at the Joseph M Sanzari Children's Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center, and Noor Al-Husayni, M.D., an attending physician in the program. We discuss the reasons behind the rising rates of eating disorders, how to identify early warning signs and effective treatment strategies.