Here are signs of eating disorders for parents to look out for NBC Chicago [Video]

Doctors are urging families and caregivers to be on the lookout for warning signs of eating disorders over the summer months — a time when schedules are different and children and teens may spend more time unsupervised.

A 2023 study in the Journal of Pediatrics found eating disorder-related doctors’ visits more than doubled among kids under the age of 17 between 2018 to 2022.

“I’ve seen behaviors as young as 8, 9 years old,” said Dr. Huma Khan, an adolescent medicine physician at Advocate Children’s Medical Group.

Khan said eating disorders do not discriminate and can be overlooked in some communities.

“When eating disorders in minority groups go overlooked, and the disease progresses, it can be more severe,” Khan said.

Warning signs to watch out for include:

• A focus on reading nutrition labels
• Eliminating whole groups of foods
• Eliminating meals or snacks
• Changes in eating behaviors, such as cutting food into tiny bites

“Or if you see there’s a lot more exercise. There’s like a …