Help with anorexia

Talking with professionals is your best step.

At 6 years old there is likely something else that is going on.

Be prepared for the professionals to single you and your husband, and other older/younger siblings out in terms of asking about your eating habits, comments you make about weight loss/weight gain and body image around your 6 year old. They are very impressionable and may just be trying to be like mommy/daddy the babysitter or someone at school.

My heart aches for you and your daughter, I too have a 6 year old daughter and can't imagine the pain this is causing your heart.

it may be something physical/physiological, not a psychological problem. I think it's important to rule out physical problems before saying she has anorexia and/or she's refusing to eat. She may feel nauseous or actually be feeling full, because she has no appetite, rather than refusing to eat for psychological reasons.

kids can take a long time to get their appetite back after being ill, or maybe the not eating and the illness are part of a medical problem. There are many medical issues that can make kids not eat. These possibilities need to be investigated, and it does need to be done quickly as she's already losing weight. I hope the doctor is investigating all possible causes of this, and not just taking the line that she's refusing to eat.

Sounds like me at that age, but I wasn't anorexic. I just didn't enjoy eating. I made up for lost time later in life.

I do remember I enjoyed food more when I helped make it. Putting the cheese on the lasagna, stirring the mashed potatoes, etc.

she literally may not be hungry, but before you get into something psychological in a child that age, i would check the physical first.

I agree. Professional psychological help this young can do more damage then help if it is unnecessary.

@ 6 I would highly doubt its anorexia, have the dr take a look.

she literally may not be hungry, but before you get into something psychological in a child that age, i would check the physical first.

I agree. Professional psychological help this young can do more damage then help if it is unnecessary.

additionally, if she has a physical illness/medical condition, that would need to be treated.

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with talking to a professional. Just talking to someone who specializes in this will not automatically cause your daughter psychological issues (like some have let on in their comments...and shame on them for that). It does sound like she really enjoys the time she gets to spend with you (i.e. when you are feeding her). You can never say, "I love you" too much or give too many hugs. Good luck to you and your family as you work and grow together on this issue.

Just adding that your daughter's weight (before being sick) doesn't seem at all low to me. My son is 8 years old, 4'1" and only weighs 51lbs, my daughter is 10 years old, 4'9" and barely 60lbs.

My kids both went through phases where they didn't want to eat whether it was because they were too busy or too distracted or just plain being stubborn and going for some control.

^^^ I agree.
My son will be 5 next month and he weighs...maybe 32lbs. He doesn't eat a ton and gets full really fast.

My daughter is 6 years old and weighs 44-46 pounds. She goes through days where she doesn't want to eat anything and days where she wants to eat everything. Your daughters weight sounds fine? Check with her doctor for sure!

This can be a difficult thing. I'm realizing being a child or young adult is alot harder these days than when I was younger. I have a 17 year old daughter. We have been going through changes in eating patterns in the past few years. We went through a time when she was a little overweight. And that was fine. She also grew up and got to where she was comfortable. But body image for kids is huge. Friends and kids who aren't so friends will constantly remind them of their difference in bodys. Such as size porportions and such. Which is why my daughter has trouble and turned to not eating. She doesn't like eating in public. And pretty much refuses. And alot of times she won't eat but a large meal one time during the day when she returns home from school. My resolution for this was to buy premix shakes and always have them in the fride. They are quick and provide plenty of nutrients and protein to keep her going. She loves to drink them because "everyone is doing it". A little trickery sometimes helps. In my case I have a teen who at her last appt within a month ago weighed in at 101lbs at 5ft 2inches. So for me I felt importance to keep an eye. I think right now it seems normal, however like everyone says. Get an opinion. That is what I did. They also have specialized people who deal with food related issues. I took her for that too. If your doctor feels it's necessary they will send you that way. One thing I have learned is don't let the scale drive you. Much like the scale for weight loss, it doesn't hold 100 percent bearing. Because you can weigh 100lbs, but be a small build person. Every body is different. Get her checked out and go from there. Good luck!

I know this is not the right board for this topic; but I couldn't find a board devoted to helping people beat anorexia.

To preface this I am not anorexic, my 6 year old daughter is. I am going to call my daughter "N" for the purpose of this post. I am not sure why because she is so very slender and tiny. I am begining to think its a control thing. She is going to be starting with a psychologist next week but I was hoping someone might have some ideas on how I could help her in the mean time.

N is 6 years old, 3 foot 11 inches, and only weighs 40 lbs. She has always been very slender. She has such long graceful arms and legs. When I was a child I was very slender also. So I figured she was like I was.

Her non-eating started about a month ago. She would only eat a bite or two from any meal and claim she was full. I don't "make" my kids eat their whole plates. Then she got sick this past tuesday (3/12) and quit eating altogether. She's lost 5 lbs in a week (she had been between 47-45 lbs before. Now shes 40). She's seen the Dr on both Friday of last week and Tuesday of this week.

Last night I sat with her and talked with her and encouraged her to eat her dinner. I gave her tiny portions and it still took an hour and a half for her to finish. This morning my husband told her to eat breakfast so she went in the kitchen and made some noise for a while. I was getting ready so when I came out I saw she hadn't eaten (her bowl was clean). I sat with her again and fed her a small bowl of cherrios since she flat out refused to take bites by herself.

I am at a loss about what to do. I can see her hip bones jutting out. Help please...

You should speak to a child psychiatrist. Try not to be defensive if you are asked a lot of questions about what type of conversations/behaviors your daughter may have observed. At 6 years old it is likely these thoughts are coming to her in response to what she has seen from those close to her.

Has she specifically said she is purposely not eating?

Six seems a bit young to actually have developed anorexia and I would imagine even if that were the case, people here won't be of much help because of her age. I hope the psychologist can be helpful. It is possible she's just not very hungry and is a small person naturally.

I would be careful not to make a huge deal out of something that's possibly quite normal. What has the doctor said (disclaimer: I have only read OP, so this may have been asked and answered).

Your child isn't anorexic, she's probably going through a phase or has a medical condition affecting her appetite but you need to get off the internet and take her to a doctor.