Anorexia/Eating Disorders/worried about nephew

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Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 8/6/2009


Question
Hi. I have a nephew who is seven. He has been taking karate lessons for about six months which I think is good for him because he spends a lot of time indoors and in front of the video games. However, I had taken care of him and his five year old sister for a week recently and I noticed the seven year old asking a lot if he was fat. He is not fat, he is in the 50th percentile for weight but in the 90th percentile for height. He is also almost a year or so older than most of his peers because he did not go to kindergarten until he was six due to health issues...he has obsessive compulsive disorder but that was diagnosed by a pediatrician and I wish my sister would have taken him to a psych doctor. He has fear of germs and washes his hands and face constantly. However, it is the asking if he is fat that worries me. I do not know where he got it from...if he is self concious over being taller than the other children or if he is too aware of things before he needs to be age wise. Do I need to be concerned? He does not eat breakfast well, or lunch well but he eats dinner well and he does prefer to snack than to sit and eat. thanks for the advice.

Answer

Jeannie Rust, PhD
Dear Jen,

It's amazing to me where kids pick up "stuff."  He's a TV watcher and TV is full of diet ideas everywhere!  The obsessive compulsive disorder is apparent in his behaviors with washing and germs.  I would really nag your sister to get him to a psychiatrist where he can be properly evaluated.  He might also benefit from just a tiny bit of medicine that could help him with the anxiety!

I would tell him, "You know, you're not fat, but you're tall.  You are so lucky to be tall!  So many men want to be tall.  Some of them even wear little things in their shoes so they'll look taller.  You'll never have to do that.  You're so lucky!!

Does that make sense??  Turning things into positives??

Let me know how he does!!

Warmly,
Jeannie Rust, PhD
www.mirasol.net
www.edrecovery.com
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentThanks for the advice regarding my nephew. I feel better that I do not have to be too concerned and thanks for the quick response.


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Jeanne Rust, PhD

Expertise

I have been treating eating disorders for over 25 years and I have a doctorate in clinical psychology. I am an expert in anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders and in co-occurring disorders as well -- depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, etc. I was the official eating disorder therapist for the University of Arizona athletic department and love working with girls and women of all ages! 12 years ago I started my own treatment centers in Arizona where we treat adolescents and adults. I love working with people and have been helping people online since 1994. My hearts go out to the people out there who are unable to find help, who aren't sure whether they need help, and who don't have much of an understanding of the terrible consequences, emotionally and physically, that go hand in hand with the eating disorder. I view eating disorders as coping mechanisms that people use when they are under stress. I believe that eating disorders most times have many similarities whether it is anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating. The good news is that people can heal from an eating disorder and learn to create the lives they would like to live.

Experience

I have 25 years of experience in treating eating disorders of all kinds. I also do consultations for people who are starting treatment centers.

Education/Credentials
Northwestern University -- BA Masters in Counseling Doctorate in Clinical Psychology -- Saybrook institute

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