A scientist In today's society we are now seeing more children under the age of twelve developing eating disorders. It is estimated that 40% of nine year olds have already dieted and we are beginning to see four and five year olds expressing the need to diet. It's a shame that children so young are being robbed of their childhoods. Why is it that so many young children are becoming obsessed with dieting and their weight? I feel the family environment has a lot to do with it, along with the fact that children are constantly being exposed to the message society gives about the importance of being thin. Children raised in a dysfunctional family are at a higher risk for developing an eating disorder. In a home where physical or sexual abuse is taking place, the child may turn to an eating disorder to gain a sense of control. If they can't control what is happening to their bodies during the abuse, they can control their food intake or their weight. Self imposed starvation may also be their way of trying to disappear so they no longer have to suffer through the abuse. Children may also develop eating disorders as a way of dealing with the many emotions that they feel, especially if they are raised in a home that does not allow feelings to be expressed. Children who are compulsive eaters are usually using food to help them deal with feelings of anger, sadness, hurt, loneliness, abandonment, fear and pain. If children are not allowed to express their emotions, they may become emotional eaters. Also, if parents are too involved in their own problems, the child may turn to food for comfort. Children are at a risk for developing an eating disorder if the parents themselves are too preoccupied with appearance and weight. If the parents are constantly dieting and expressing dislike towards their own bodies, the child will receive the message that appearance is very important. In some families the parents mistake baby fat for actual fat and may try to impose a diet on the child. Not only is that not right, it's cruel. As parents you need to set a good example for your children, which means that you yourself should be involved in healthy eating patterns. Another thing to remember about children is that they eat when they are hungry and they stop when they are full. Never force a child to eat if they don't want to. Too many families still force children to remain at the table until they have eaten everything on their plate. Doing that could cause the child to hate meal times and develop an unhealthy attitude towards food. Exercise is also an important part of everyone's life and we need to help our children become involved in physical activity, which means the parents themselves should participate in healthy exercise. Help the child to find activities they enjoy and activities the whole family can enjoy. They should be taught that physical activity is important in maintaining a strong and healthy body, but they should not be given the message that exercise is important in maintaining a slim figure. What kind of message does the society give to the children who are becoming obsessed with dieting and their weight?