Eating disorders are having an effect on children who are as old as seven years and following this they have been admitted to hospitals.

It has been reported that in the last 10 years or so there have been more calls about children under the age of 12.

There are various consequences that are not good of malnutrition and these are brain structure being changed, infertility, growth getting retarded and osteoporosis especially among the younger lot.

There have children from the age group of nine, seven and eight years who arrive at hospitals to get medical help for eating disorders and this also includes help in gaining weight and psychological problems that emanate from anorexia, according to Eating Disorders Victoria.

According to executive officer Kirsty Greenwood, there was a rise in the number of children suffering from anorexia and this was a cause of major concern.

She said, “Concerns about body image, and dieting behaviours, are presenting young and younger. In earlier times it was not common to hear that a young child suffered from eating disorders.”

It was also added that due to lack of proper research, eating disorders in children could not have been diagnosed.