20,000 CHILDREN IN DANGER: THE WARNING SIGNS.

EXPERTS warn signs may not always be noticeable as a eating disorder is a hidden illness that grips the mind very quickly. But worried parents can spot a series of behavioural, psychological and physical clues that will tell them if their child has a problem with food. Watch your child closely and observe their eating patterns. HAVE they lost weight dramatically - even though they seem to be eating normally? ARE they disappearing into the bathroom straight after eating? DOES your child avoid family meal times and make excuses to leave the table? WATCH out for strange rituals attached to eating, like cutting food into tiny pieces or weighing everything obsessively ARE there large amounts of food missing from the fridge? This could be a sign of binge eating DO they have an intense fear of gaining weight? One of the signs is an obsession with clothing sizes, weighing themselves and mirrors EXCESSIVE exercising can indicate there is a problem but also a lack of interest in sport - fear of getting undressed in communal changing rooms is a danger sign. ARE they always commenting on their weight, saying things like 'I'm so fat'? MOOD swings and changes in personality are a sign that something is wrong PHYSICAL changes include dizzy spells and fainting, constipation and abdominal pains BEWARE also of swelling in the stomach, face and around ankles FREQUENT vomiting and use of laxatives is also a danger sign ABSENT or irregular periods in girls and dry and brittle bones in boys suggests they may be abusing food EXCESSIVE facial and body hair is common in extreme cases of anorexia. Hair loss is also a vital clue ARE they always complaining of feeling cold? CHECK for swollen salivary glands and broken blood vessels in the eyes from excessive vomiting