Please share your experiences in children mental illnesses?

My friends brother was 5 or 6 when he started becoming self consious. He eventually developed beulimia around age 8. He only ate when his parents forced him too. I also recall once when he stuck his finger down his throat and threw up on his plate at the table because they wouldn't let him leave until he ate everything. Childhood eating disorders are very serious and uncommon. It would be an interesting topic that i'm sure would capture anyone attention. I hope this helps.