Independent medical expert answers
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Children Not Eating; Forcing Children to Eat; Eating Disorders in Children

Written by: Gunborg Palme, certified psychologist and certified psychotherapist, teacher and tutor in psychotherapy.
First version: 22 Jul 2008. Latest version: 05 Aug 2008.

Abstract:

Forcing children to eat can result in these children developing eating disorders later in life.

Question:

Should you force children not eating to eat?

Answer:

If the parents/custodians of a child force the child to eat, they will not help the child to be responsive to its real bodily needs. The child does not learn to recognize its real feelings of hunger and satisfaction. This can, later in life, cause eating disorders. Incorrect learning at young ages has a stronger effect than incorrect learning later in life. Every time you try to recognize your real feelings of hunger and satisfaction, you are taking a step towards learning to recognize your real bodily needs.

More information
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