Eating Disorder Clinics Vancouver Youth Can AttendEating disorders are fairly common, especially since there seems to be this ideal of being super thin like the famous tv and movie stars. This is especially a problem with our young people. Studies show that approximately half of teenagers are unsatisfied with how they look, and a lot of these kids are already dieting to try to lose weight. Some of these teenagers have already developed or are in the process of developing eating disorders. However, not all of the Eating Disorder Clinics Vancouver has to offer are set up to treat teenagers. There is one that can do this though, called the Be Real Clinic. This is one of the Eating Disorder Clinics Vancouver has that is run out of the Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver. The Be Real clinic specializes in the early identification and treatment of eating disorders in young people aged 11 to 19, and is open two Wednesday afternoons a month. As with the other Eating Disorder Clinics Vancouver has to offer at the Lions Gate Hospital, participation in this treatment program is by referral only. Those who are accepted into this program are treated by a team including a physician, a counsellor, and a dietitian. Treatment of eating disorders is important because they can lead to health problems such as electrolyte imbalances, heart conditions, and kidney failure that can lead to death. If you are worried that your child might need the services of one of the Eating Disorder Clinics Vancouver has to offer, check to see whether or not your child has any of the following warning signs, and if so, contact your physician for a referral visit. Some of the possible signs of an eating disorder include: avoiding friends and family; depression and moodiness; a distorted body image; exercising too much; frequent dental problems; low self esteem; perfectionism; a preoccupation with food, weight and dieting; refusal to eat; unusual weight fluctuations; and uncontrolled or binge eating. Low self esteem is one of the common denominators among those who are getting treatment at one of the Eating Disorder Clinics Vancouver has to offer, and this is something that parents can work on at home. It is important not to praise or criticize your children based on their looks. You should praise accomplishments and model healthy behavior. Children are more likely to do as you do than do as you say, so telling them to eat healthily and exercise isn't as effective as modelling the proper behavior yourself. You don't want to put too much focus on being thin and dieting. You want to focus to be on eating healthy food so that your body will be healthy.
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