Bullying Often Linked to Food Allergies

Posted by in Healthcare


Healthcare professionals have become increasingly aware of the emotional impact of bullying on children and teens. While most studies focus on bullying based on a child’s physical appearance or social status, a recently published study in Pediatrics revealed that more than 30 percent of children were harassed by classmates over their allergies.

 

"It's very easy to intimidate a food-allergic child," noted Dr. Eyal Shemesh, who heads up the division of behavior and environmental health in the Department of Pediatrics at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. "It doesn't take more than waving a peanut in front of them."

 

A survey of 251 families recruited at a food allergy clinic revealed that 45 percent of the children and teens (aged 8 to 17) said they'd been bullied, with nearly a third indicating that they were harassed due to their food allergy. The bullying occurred at school where allergic kids were taunted with food being tossed at or waved in their face. 

 

Kids who were bullied even once were less happy at school. Many parents (nearly half) indicated they were unaware their child was being bullied. But Shemesh indicated that when parents become aware of their child being bullied, it lessens the emotional impact of being bullied. "Parents should ask, not in an alarming way, something like, 'Do people bother you at school or anywhere? Do people bother you about the allergy?'" said Shemesh who encouraged pediatricians and allergy specialists to also become involved. "Clinicians should not be intimidated or think that children will not talk to them about it," Shemesh said. "This study shows they will."

According to the CDC, teens and young adults with food allergies are at the highest risk of fatal food-induced anaphylaxis. Every three minutes, a food allergy reaction sends someone to the emergency department. Kids are often aware of these facts and are already stressed out by their food allergies. Bullying just compounds the stress. "Living with a food allergy is emotionally stressful, since the only way to prevent a potentially life-threatening reaction is to be vigilant about avoiding problem foods," said John Lehr, CEO of the Food Allergy Research and Education organization. "When children with food allergies are bullied by being exposed or taunted with a food they are allergic to, it heightens anxiety and creates a sense of isolation."
 
Food allergy bullying can lead to serious emotional problems in children. Experts suggest that parents, educators and healthcare professionals become proactive in addressing the problem.  One book that offers solutions is “Bullying Prevention and Intervention: Realistic Strategies for Schools (Intervention in the Schools Series; S. M. Swearer, PhD; D.L. Espelage PhD; and S.A. Napolitano PhD).
 
Image courtesy of Ambro/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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  • Rudy R
    Rudy R
    I was bullied by my male classmates by branded food products (boxed) that were kept from their sight. I got back at em by regularly bringing strange-but artful, filipino concontions in my sandwiches. Me thinks these snots did not bully me again when was more self-possessed than they were.It's a relief to wipe-face/preempt them too.
  • Caroline E
    Caroline E
    I think there are many reasons for bullying and that having any kind of disability is just one of many. It is the parents of these children who need to tell the administrators of the school that it is their responsibility to communicate to the studeny body about bullying and to ENACT PUNITIVE MEASURES.II used to work in the public schools and saw many instances of bullying over-looked by teachers and by administrators. Parents need to advocate for their children's civil rights because they cant'. It is a sad situation that is indicative of cultural collapse that cruelty in all forms, have become the norm in our institutions, right down to the pre-school level, I have no doubt.
  • Alex Kecskes
    Alex Kecskes
    Thank you for your comments. Bullying no matter what the cause can be a problem.
  • Farah B
    Farah B
    If I was the pricipal of any school I would not allow food allergy items in my school to avoid such food allergy bullying action. I believe cornering a kid in cafetaria due to food allergies and not able to eat with thier peer group on the same table is isolating the kid in the first place. The kid is not enjoying the company of other kids during school time is not part of healthy development.
  • Teresa W
    Teresa W
    Helpful info

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