Pediatricians' group issues guidelines on early signs of eating disorders By (0) The mean age of a child with an eating disorder is 12.5 years old, a new report said. Photo by ThorstenF/Pixabay A leading pediatricians' group says families often spot eating disorders too late -- and offers new guidelines to reach an earlier diagnosis. "For too long, eating disorders were considered a disease that afflicted mostly affluent white teenage girls," said Dr. Laurie Hornberger, lead author of the report written by the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Adolescence. Advertisement "We know today that girls and boys of all ages, income levels and racial and ethnic groups may be struggling with eating disorders," she said in an academy news release. "Our hope is to help counter the stigma they may experience and provide an environment for open nonjudgmental conversations."