Anorexia Nervosa In Young Children

Body Mass Index or BMI is a value obtained from the mass and height of an individual. BMI refers to the body mass divided by the square of the body height, and is universally expressed in units of kg/m², resulting from mass in kilograms and height in metres.

As per one of the latest researches, it has been established that continuous low body mass index (BMI) in boys as young as 2 years of age and girls as young as 4 years of age, may possibly pose risk and can lead to the development of anorexia nervosa in them when they attain adolescence. The study has been conducted on nearly 1,502 individuals who took part in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children in the UK. Presently, there is hardly any technique to figure out symptoms that indicate the development of this disorder in young children during adolescence. Mr. Zeynep Yilmaz, PhD and an assistant professor of psychiatry and genetics at the UNC Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders in the University of North Carolina School of Medicine stated that growth records of a child is indicative of earning profiles that signal towards children at risk. The doctors must keep a check at symptoms such as low growth rate throughout childhood. This could be an early sign for anorexia nervosa. Alongside even increased growth curve is not a good sign, it leads to other eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder. In case of eating disorder, metabolic risk factors alongside psychological, sociocultural, and environmental components should also be monitored. Other authors of this study are Nadia Micali, MD, MRCPsych PhD, Full Professor at University of Geneva Faculty of Medicine and Head of Geneva University Hospitals' Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The authors stated that their results show that multi functional composition of eating disorders and the requirement to develop early detection tools are important steps for conducting routine checkups by all pediatricians. Naturally, it is better if the disorder is identified at an early stage. The early the symptoms are identified, better is the effect of the treatment. The other authors of the study from the University Of North Carolina School Of Medicine are Nisha C. Gottfredson, PhD, Stephanie C. Zerwas, PhD, and Cynthia M. Bulik, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Eating Disorders and Founding Director of the UNC Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders.

By: Anuja Arora

Content: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190131143436.htm