Joanna answers your questions...

Question: When should I be worried?

"If your child’s eating habits change in a way that seems significant to you. For instance, s/he may begin to restrict food intake or change her diet entirely, may start skipping meals, or may begin to take meal replacement ‘shakes’ and skip meals. Or you may notice s/he now takes only half the portion s/he used to, for no good reason that you can see. Or you notice your child now cuts food up in small pieces and eats very slowly. These are just some examples." ... Read More

Question: What’s the difference between disordered eating and an eating disorder?

"The spectrum ranges from healthy eating on one end, where food isn’t given a whole lot of focus, except as something that is both pleasurable and functional to good health. Disordered eating sits in the centre of the spectrum, characterized by preoccupation with weight and shape, calorie restriction, use of weight-loss supplements, Yo-yo dieting (cycles of losing and then gaining weight), and finally, with Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder at the other end of the spectrum. Health can be very compromised with engagement in disordered eating. " ... Read More