An average of 14 children from New Zealand are hospitalized each year over eating disorders, according to Manawatu Standard.

Documents obtained by the Manawatu Standard under the Official Information Act from 10 district health boards in the country reveal a disturbing scenario of children as young as six years old being treated for effects of anorexia and bulimia.

People affected by anorexia nervosa struggle with an intense fear of gaining weight, while those with bulimia nervosa engage in binge-eating-then-purging, whereas the affected person throw up or take laxatives after a meal.

In the MidCentral District Health Board (DHB) region alone, an average of 14 young adults are treated for the ill effects of eating disorders.

Meanwhile, Auckland DHB figures show a dramatic rise of eating disorder patients. In 2007 16 patients were documented. In 2009, the number rose to 31; in 2010, 54 patients under 18 years old were admitted.

In the MidCentral District, 13 children and young adults who were 14 years old in average were treated in hospital for eating disorder effects since 2007. All 13 were female, and a 12-year-old girl was treated in a catatonic state.

Up to 20 per cent of Anorexia sufferers die as a result of unhealthy diet, Fairfax NZ reported.

Former American Idol judge Paula Abdul is one of the known celebrities who had suffered from bulimia nervosa. As spokesperson for the National Eating Disorders Association, Paula often spoke about her health problems and encouraged those who suffer from eating disorders to talk about their condition.

"It is one of the toughest things to talk about, bar none, and it is one of the hardest disorders to deal with because it's not black or white. Eating disorders really have nothing to do with food, it's about feelings," Abdul said.

Abdul had previously said her negative self-image had started when she was as young as seven years old, but it became a serious problem when she was in high school.