The behavioral tip of an emotional iceberg, an eating disorder can derail a child's healthy maturation into adulthood. Disordered eating is not the same as an eating disorder. The distinction between normalcy and pathology lies in the purpose of the behavior for the individual. Skipping breakfast because a person is late for school is different from missing breakfast in order to feel in control and confident that day. An eating disorder simultaneously impacts a person's emotions, behaviors, and physical health.
Upward mobility is the most significant determining factor for minority groups.
Body image concerns are reported in the first grade, and by the 8th and 9th grade half of all girls have been on diets, a major risk factor for developing an eating disorder. There is increasing evidence that the roots of disease lie in genetics, brain chemistry and temperament, as well as in environmental factors. By the same token, parents can be influential in preventing eating disorders in their children. Restrictive or fat-free eating is not healthy eating, The compulsive checking of nutritional labels for guidance and permission to eat creates compulsions and food phobia, not healthy bodies and eating lifestyles. The structure of the American family has changed.