DENVER — Throughout the years, the Eating Recovery Center (ERC) has seen more younger patients, prompting them to launch its Brave Bites 812 programming.
The national organization has programs in 16 states, including Colorado. According to data they shared on their website from the Eating Disorders Coalition, the rate of children under 12 being admitted to a hospital for an eating disorder rose 119% in less than a decade.
Luis Herrera, a Denver clinical manager at ERC in the Child & Adolescent Unit, explained that children ages 8 to 12 will exhibit eating disorder symptoms differently than teenagers.
According to ERC, the Brave Bites program offers treatment tailored to a child's needs, including developmentally modified curriculum, sensory rooms, and staff specifically trained in pediatric treatment.