More thin kids say, 'I'm Overweight'

More kids think they're overweight, even if they're not. Americans often look in the mirror and think, "I'm overweight." But a growing number are children, usually pre-adolescent and adolescent girls, who aren't overweight but believe they are.

"I think what goes on at home and what comes out of the media are both involved," said Dr. Stephanie Setliff, medical director of the Center for Pediatric Eating Disorders at Children's and assistant professor of Pediatric Psychiatry at UT Southwestern. She has seen girls as young as 6 worry about their weight.

Eating disorders encouraged from media, parents

Magazines and TV shows that worship ultra-thin models and pop stars fuel the trend, said Setliff. They lead kids to think such unrealistic goals are the norm. Parents who obsess over their own eating or exercise habits can make things worse.

"Two messages need to be transmitted," Dr. Setliff said. "One is that people come in all different shapes and sizes. The other is that we need to focus on children's strength and self-esteem and sense of accomplishment, not just on their bodies."

Overweight solution: A proactive approach

In a recent study of Girl Scouts in fifth and sixth grades, about 30 percent said they were doing something to lose weight. Most took moderate steps: They ate more fruits and vegetables or less high-fat foods. But a few took laxatives or diet pills, say University of Minnesota researchers. At that age (10, on average), any dieting can affect growth and raise risks of fatigue, irritability, low self-esteem, depression and eating disorders. Yet one-third of the dieting girls said they weren't overweight.

Today, of course, more young persons are actually overweight than in the past. Those cases need "a multi-pronged approach involving food, exercise, education, and a decrease in hours spent watching television," Dr. Setliff says. "And, the whole family needs to be in on it."

Get help for overweight obsession

What if your child's fear of being overweight seems groundless — or if you're not sure? You should seek advice from your pediatrician or another healthcare professional who knows children and eating disorders. Some children benefit from early medical, nutrition, and psychological counseling.

Children's has provided treatment for eating disorders for more than 20 years and remains the only hospital in the multi-state area that treats both girls and boys up to 18 with eating disorders in an inpatient setting that provides a full continuum of care. The program offers five levels of care ranging from inpatient to partial hospitalization; day treatment; intensive outpatient; and outpatient services.

For more information on the center's programs, call 214-456-5900.

Tags: Children's Medical Center , overweight , pediatric eating disorders