What to do if your son has anorexia

For parents and carers who are concerned that a boy in their care is developing anorexia:

1. Make sure you and your child understand how much an active teenagers needs to eat in order to grow. He/she may need to consume between 3,000 and 4,000 calories a day if he is particularly active.

2. Encourage your son to eat a healthy diet including a good balance of carbohydrate, protein, fruit and vegetables, and at least some fats and sugar. However don’t be hard on yourself if he doesn’t respond. Anorexia can take over a child’s previously rational mind incredibly quickly.

3. Weigh your son as soon as you feel concerned. You need to try and monitor how his weight is changing over a period of time. If he stops gaining weight over a three month period (teenage boys should be gaining between 4 and 6 kg each year, or 1 to 1.5 kg every three months) that should ring alarm bells. If he starts to lose weight you should be extremely concerned.

4. Monitor his exercise routine. A sudden increase in sports training and repetitive exercise can be a major cause for concern. Even if your son appears to be eating well at home, he may be restricting his diet at school. A small decrease in food intake and increase in exercise can lead to weight loss. The chief medical officer recommends children should have at least 60 minutes moderate exercise every day. Several hours of punishing exercise can use up a huge amount of calories in a teenage boy and might even lead to muscle damage.

5. Watch out for other behavioural changes. Some could be normal changes due to puberty, but dramatic mood swings and the appearance of rituals should ring alarm bells

6. Write down everything you observe about his weight, exercise and other habits. This may be invaluable in helping a GP or pediatrician to make a speedy diagnosis.

7. If you can, speak to your son’s teachers or sports coach. They may pick up on things at school that you haven’t observed at home. Other mothers of boys at school might also have picked up on changes in behaviour at school from your son’s friends.

8. Seek professional help sooner rather than later, and as a matter of urgency if your son’s weight is dropping. An active boy who is restricting his diet can easily lose 1 kg a week and soon become dangerously emaciated. In addition the quicker an eating disorder is identified, the read more