Kids aged seven treated for eating disorders

SEVEN-YEAR-OLDS are among the spiralling numbers of Queensland kids being treated for eating disorders.

New data from the Eating Disorders Program, delivered through Children Health Queensland’s Child and Youth Mental Health Service shows the number of referrals are increasing annually.

Of the 408 young people referred to the service between March 2016 and February 2019, 95 per cent were girls. Anorexia nervosa was the most common diagnosis.

The program’s multidisciplinary team also supports clients with bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorders, avoidant food intake disorder, other specified feeding and eating disorders and coexisting secondary diagnoses including anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Eating Disorders Program Medical Director Dr Salvatore Catania said eating disorders were a growing concern for young people in Queensland.

“The National Eating Disorder Collaboration estimates that one in 20 Australians are living with an eating disorder and that rate is continuing to increase,” Dr Catania said.

“Eating disorders typically start in adolescence between 14 and 25 years of age, however the age of onset is decreasing and children as young as five are presenting with eating disorder symptoms nationally.

“In Queensland, the average age of adolescents we see at the clinic is 15, but we have seen children as young as seven. Eating disorders are still not well understood in the general population.”