For anyone that has experienced a loved one suffering with an eating disorder will know it can be very complex.
Many suffers do not realise they have a problem, heartbreakingly they see themselves very differently to others and they may go to extraordinary lengths to hide their behaviour from family and friends.
Eating disorders are not isolated to adults, as hard as it to comprehend, they also affect children.
Today our special guest will share her lived experience of an eating disorder with the view of encouraging open honest conversations between children and their guardians.
To share her story, we welcome Maddy Tyers a Young Australian actress, children’s entertainer and a former contestant in the last series of Lego Masters.
Maddy has written a book for children 8-12 years about Anorexia and eating disorders. After being diagnosed with an eating disorder at 15 years of age.
We ask Maddy questions including:
- At what age did you start to develop a change in your thought patterns?
- What are some of the warning signs parents with children the same age should be aware of in their own children?
- In your article you share your Top 10 Tips for parents supporting a child experiencing negative body image, could you quickly share them with us now.
- What would you tell your eight year old self now?
- What is the biggest piece of advice you would give to parents who might be experiencing having a child with an eating disorder?
- What should parents be aware of with their children’s changed behaviors?
- Could you describe for us what it is like living with anorexia?
- How can parents nip problem signs in the bud before behaviours develop and get out of control?
- How much is diet culture/body image linked to eating disorder behaviour?
- What can you tell us about your book and how you hope it will help families?
For Maddy’s full article: https://kiddipedia.com.au/tips-for-parents-supporting-a-child-experiencing-negative-body-image/
For further details:
https://www.instagram.com/maddytyers/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/maddytyers?lang=en
https://www.facebook.com/maddy.tyers