To the point: Here ’s what parents should know and do about Netflix’s To the Bone

Michael Rich, MD, MPH The Mediatrician® Even before the debut of the new Netflix original movie To the Bone, parents and professionals were worried, asking The Mediatrician® about what they need to know — and whether children and teens should watch. The movie, which depicts the story of a young woman’s struggle with anorexia nervosa, has been the subject of many public and private discussions about eating disorders and how they are dealt with in popular culture. Already reeling from the portrayal of suicide in 13 Reasons Why, parents have concerns: Is the film safe for my child to watch? Can it encourage disordered eating behaviors in kids who may be prone to such an illness? Might it upset or trigger a relapse in a child working toward recovery from an eating disorder? Would it present anorexia nervosa as an attention-getting condition that kids and teens might find desirable? The answer to all those questions is “Maybe.” Here’s what you should know and what you can do: What you should know Eating disorders are serious psychiatric conditions that affect a person’s emotional and social well-being and can result in long-term physical problems and even death. They often emerge during the teen and young adult years (but can start in childhood). While these are highly individual illnesses with no single “cause,” factors contributing to risk for eating disorders include genetics and environment (nature and nurture), societal pressures, emotional health, and even...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Children's Health Diet and Weight Loss Mental Health Parenting Source Type: blogs