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Eating disorders

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12 year old and weight

2 replies

Bestfootforward11 · 09/02/2026 10:01

Hello. I’d be really grateful for any advice please. My DD is 12 and just started secondary school. She shares a lot and I think is genuinely really enjoying it- making new friends and doing new things etc. she’s always eaten well and never had an issue with food. But she is feeling very conscious of her body and says she feels fat. She has started doing 15 mins of Pilates videos in the evening and I’ve noticed she’s eating less at home saying she’s not hungry. I saw at the weekend that she had skipped lunch at school for most of last week. I didn’t raise it directly as I thought she’d be defensive but this morning she told me this herself. She switches between saying she knows she isn’t fat but feels it to saying she is fat compared to other girls. She said last week she didn’t feel better despite not eating so I suggested she focus on eating normally this week and we work together on the feelings. I’d say the changes to her behaviour have been over 3-4 weeks. Should I involve the GP and/or counselling at this point? I’ve read early intervention is important but don’t know if this is too early and worry it might make things worse. Feeling very scared about where this could go and that she feels bad about herself. Thank you for any advice in advance x

OP posts:
Brooksandstreams · 09/02/2026 10:05

Yes do it early.
This is a really helpful organisations

https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/

it can be a long road with many paths but the sooner we can talk to them about the media, expectations, healthy versus thin (possible to be both or one or the other). Some people are naturally thin and sometimes there is a diet or medical reason.

The UK's Eating Disorder Charity - Beat

Struggling with an eating disorder? Caring for someone who is? Beat is here to support you.

https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk

Pearl97 · 10/02/2026 23:24

It’s good you’re recognising what’s going on. Do you know what she weighs and if she is losing weight. The GP etc will go on weight to height if they are looking at ED. It’s worth knowing her weight so you know how concerned they might be.

the above poster is right, early intervention is very good. You are doing the right thing, definitely seek Help.

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