Eating disorders in children and adolescents

Abstract

The eating disorders of childhood and adolescence lie in the murky waters between those of adulthood anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, and the feeding disorders of childhood. Early-onset eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, on which this article will focus. The younger the patient, however, the more likely he or she is to present an ‘atypical’ picture. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa have been previously addressed in this journal, by Palmer (1996) and Fairburn (1997). With older adolescents, ideas relevant to adult patients will be appropriate at times. Nevertheless, developmental issues should be borne in mind.