When he was in t-ball, he was the cutest little catcher. He looked like a Ninja Turtle. Hormone therapy can treat some disease-based growth problems, but is not recommended simply to improve short stature, Rimoin warns. But the same forces that make girls anorexic also affect boys. Children with eating disorders tend to have low self-esteem, feel a need to be perfect and feel they have no control over what is going on in their environment.
Food is a way of gaining control.
Parents can contribute to the problem by being too controlling or having their own body image issues, such as making disparaging remarks about themselves and sending messages that self-worth is tied to appearance. I noticed I put on weight and, trying to be perfect, decided to take off a few pounds. He lost the 15 pounds he wanted to, felt proud of himself and decided to keep dieting. Soon, diet and exercise became an obsession. He felt he finally had control over his life.