The shocking rise in CHILDREN DIETING

While child obesity remains a growing problem, there has been a worrying increase in healthy kids trying to lose weight unnecessarily

- ASHLEIGH PAGE

Weight-watching and counting calories may sound like predominantly adult concerns, but shocking statistics show that a quarter of children are reportedly now on diets. And sadly, it’s not just in an attempt to tackle obesity.

While being overweight remains a problem among children in the UK, with 25.5% of 10 and 11-year-olds classed as obese, there has been a worryingly rapid increase in children with a healthy body weight also dieting, with one in seven unnecessarily attempting to lose weight – some as young as eight.

Primary school weigh-ins are still prevalent, a practice which clinicians say can be a trigger for eating disorders. And, coupled with the pressures of social media, once-carefree kids are now more likely to become preoccupied with their body image at an increasingly young age, as they struggle to develop a healthy relationship with food.

Eating disorder charity Beat saw a 97% increase in calls to their helpline between March and October 2020 compared to the previous year.

A lifetime of dieting can be risky and harmful, and it can be challenging for parents to help their children steer a healthy path between self-care and an obsession with the scales.

Woman speaks to the experts and to one mum whose daughter began worrying about her body at just seven.

‘SHE ANNOUNCED AT 14 SHE WANTED LIPOSUCTION’