Understanding and Managing Eating Disorders in Traumatised Children And Young People

Children’s attitudes to eating are affected by their emotions, as well as the way they are brought up.

Children and young people’s appetites may change at different ages and this is normal. Some people eat a lot or eat anything, others are more particular. Younger children often refuse to eat certain foods and teenagers may go through food fads. Most of us have tried out different diets at some time in our lives, whether to slim a little or put on some weight, or to improve our health. None of this should usually be a cause for concern.

Children who are abused and neglected are at a high risk of developing issues and problems with food, due to the stress they have experienced or may continue to experience, whilst living in care. They may comfort eat when they are not hungry, or they may have related worries associated to body image, their emotions and low self esteem.

Eating disorders can become quickly established during the teenage years and should always be taken seriously, when they are beginning to impact on a young persons development.

Anorexia Nervosa and bulimia, as well as compulsive eating are all areas of this one day workshop which will be explored in depth, with common sense ideas and professional strategies to consider when caring for a vulnerable young person.

This 1 day course meets the requirements of the Training, Support and Development Standards for foster care: 1; (1,2,3,4); 2 (1,2,4); 3 (1,2,3,4,5); 4 (1,2,4,5); 5 (1,2,6);   6 (1,2,3,4,5); 7 (1,2,3,4,5)