Daryn Eller

Daryn Eller, a freelance writer who lives in Santa Barbara, California, maintains in the following viewpoint that preteens as young as elementary school-age are increasingly developing eating disorders. Studies show that many preadolescent children exhibit dissatisfaction with their bodies and have attempted to diet, writes Eller.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What are the classic symptoms of a full-blown eating disorder, as stated by the author"

2. In one study cited by Eller, how many first-, third-, and fifth-graders had been on a diet"

3. Which girls feel most self-conscious about their bodies, according to Eller"

There have been enough TV movies, magazine articles, and unfortunate high-profile deaths to put eating disorders on most parents’ radar screens. But if you’re the parent of a preteen, they may appear as distant...