India, Nov. 3 -- Eating disorders among school-age children have become a significant public health concern, with onset ages trending younger than in previous decades. The National Eating Disorders Association and similar bodies report that early adolescence, particularly the middle school years, represents a critical window when disordered eating patterns most commonly emerge, often coinciding with puberty, social comparison, and increased exposure to appearance-focused peer culture. Research published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders found that body dissatisfaction reported during middle school years strongly predicted disordered eating behaviors several years later, underscoring how early these patterns take root within s...