You think your child, or someone you care about, has an eating disorder.

Now What?

If you’re worried about your child’s eating behaviors or attitudes, it’s important to express your concerns in a loving and supportive way. It is also necessary to discuss your worries early on, rather than waiting until your child has endured many of the damaging physical and emotional effects of eating disorders.

It’s Time to Talk

In a private and relaxed setting, talk  in a calm and caring way about the specific things you have seen or felt that have caused you to worry.

What to Say - Step by Step

Set a time to talk. Set aside a time for a private, respectful meeting to discuss your concerns openly and honestly in a caring, supportive way. Make sure you will be some place away from other distractions.

Communicate your concerns. Share your memories of specific times when you felt concerned about your child’s eating or exercise behaviors. Explain that you think these things may indicate that there could be a problem that needs professional attention.

Ask your child to explore these concerns with a counselor, doctor, nutritionist, or other health professional who is knowledgeable about eating issues. Tell your child you will make an appointment and go along on the visit.

Avoid conflicts or a battle of the wills. If your child refuses to acknowledge that there is a problem, or any reason for you to be concerned, restate your feelings and the reasons for them and leave yourself open and available as a supportive listener.

Avoid placing shame, blame, or guilt on your child regarding their actions or attitudes. Don’t use accusatory “you” statements like, “You just need to eat.” Or, “You are acting irresponsibly.” Instead, use “I” statements like, “I’m concerned about you because you refuse to eat breakfast or lunch.” Or, “It makes me afraid to hear you vomiting.”

Avoid giving simple solutions. For example, “If you’d just stop, then everything would be fine!”

Express your continued support. Remind your child that you love him and want him to be healthy and happy.

Make an appointment with a doctor. Click here for a list of providers in your area.

Write down your observations and concerns to share with the doctor.

Accompany your child to the doctor.

Follow through with the treatment plan.

What you can expect. How eating disorders are treated.

Adapted from the National Institute of Mental Health

Anorexia nervosa - The first goal for the treatment of anorexia is to ensure the person’s physical health, which involves restoring a healthy weight (NIMH, 2002). Reaching this goal may require hospitalization. Once a person’s physical condition is stable, treatment usually involves individual psychotherapy and family therapy during which parents help their child learn to eat again and maintain healthy eating habits on his or her own. Behavioral therapy also has been effective for helping a person return to healthy eating habits. Supportive group therapy may follow, and self-help groups within communities may provide ongoing support.

Bulimia - Unless malnutrition is severe, any substance abuse problems that may be present at the time the eating disorder is diagnosed are usually treated first. The next goal of treatment is to reduce or eliminate the person’s binge eating and purging behavior (NIMH, 2002). Behavioral therapy has proven effective in achieving this goal. Psychotherapy has proven effective in helping to prevent the eating disorder from recurring and in addressing issues that led to the disorder. Studies have also found that Prozac, an antidepressant, may help people who do not respond to psychotherapy (APA, 2002). As with anorexia, family therapy is also recommended.

Binge-eating disorder - The goals and strategies for treating binge-eating disorder are similar to those for bulimia. Binge-eating disorder was recognized only recently as an eating disorder, and research is under way to study the effectiveness of different interventions (NIMH, 2002).

REMEMBER!!

All eating disorders require treatment. Earlier treatment results in a higher success rate. Act now.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, January 8th, 2009 at 12:00 pm and is filed under Mental Health, Parenting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.