Eating disorder resources for families & friends

Many young people are attempting to improve their eating habits by cutting out unhealthy foods and excessive amounts of sugar and carbs. Much of the food today is laden with chemicals, additives, hormones, and a variety of artificial colors. Understandably, there would be an increase in people striving to eat more natural foods. However, like many other positive goals, such as exercise, it can be taken to extremes. Eating the right kind of foods ultimately becomes an obsession with some people.

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What is Orthorexia Nervosa

Orthorexia nervosa is a condition in which individuals reject specific foods because they’re not "clean enough" or "pure enough". They often become fixated on maintaining a very specific eating routine. Orthorexia is currently not recognized as an official diagnosis. It is, however, a real condition that can cause serious problems in a person’s life. According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), the term orthorexia was first used in 1998. The term has come to mean an obsession with healthful or proper eating. The following are several important facts to know about orthorexia and how it affects individuals experiencing this condition.

1. Orthorexia Often Begins with Positive Eating Goals

Most types of eating disorders involve negative behaviors such as eating large amounts of food in a short amount of time or consuming too few calories. 

Orthorexia is a disorder in which individuals want to develop good eating habits. 

Their eating patterns and choices, however, develop into a routine that is no longer beneficial. There are several distinct differences between positive eating and orthorexia. A person might start out eating a vegetarian diet and progress over time to a vegan eating plan. Then the person may decide to only eat raw vegan foods. 

Eventually, the individual may come up with more rules and food exemptions, severely limiting their food choices. Ultimately the person becomes obsessed with sticking to an extreme eating plan and unwilling to eat other items if those few food choices aren’t available.

Because someone’s intended goals are generally to be in the best health possible by eating high-quality foods, it can be difficult for others to recognize that the person has an eating disorder. What started as a choice to only eat certain types of food has, over time, become an obsession that the person has now lost control over. It can be difficult to pinpoint when the person crossed the line from a positive eating routine to one that has become detrimental. 

When individuals go to dietary extremes it will eventually become unrealistic for most of them to stick to the highly regimented routine. This can lead to emotional distress and social isolation. 

2. Orthorexia is More About Quality than Quantity

An individual with orthorexia puts more focus on the nutritional value of the food that is eaten than how much is eaten. Some people with this condition may even limit their food choices to the point that there are only a dozen or even fewer foods they are willing to eat. The caloric intake or the actual amount of food consumed is usually not nearly as important as how pure or high-quality the food is perceived to be by the individual who has orthorexia. Low caloric intake, however, will become an inadvertent effect for most people experiencing orthorexia.

Some individuals may spend hours in the grocery store selecting food or asking lots of questions about how an item is prepared in a restaurant before placing an order. This is because the person has so many stipulations that must be met regarding the foods they eat. Is it organic? Is it gluten-free? Is there added salt or is it prepared in oil? 

The pursuit of a high-quality life may also be connected to the prevalence of orthorexia. Individuals pursuing higher education as well as many types of athletes appear to be more susceptible to developing this condition. According to Plos One, studies have concluded that individuals participating in endurance sports seem to have a connection to orthorexia.

3. Entire Food Groups are Often Eliminated

A person with orthorexia may become convinced that certain food groups, such as carbohydrates, should always be off-limits. Each person individual experiencing this condition may have specific types of foods or ingredients that are unacceptable to eat. The following is a list of items that those with orthorexia will often limit or totally exclude:

Animal and Dairy Products‍

An individual with orthorexia will often avoid animal and dairy products because of high fat content or added hormones.

Sugar and Salt‍

They may exclude anything with added sugar and salt. They might eventually eliminate items with natural sugar such as fruit.

Artificial Preservatives, Colors, and Flavors‍

While this would include junk food and many snacks, it might also include cereal, oatmeal, cheese, pickles, and fish.

Genetically Modified Foods‍

Soy, which is used in a variety of food, is often genetically modified. Many types of fruits and vegetables are often modified as well.

Gluten‍

Gluten is the name of different proteins that are in wheat. Gluten can be found in everything from pasta, cereal, and baked goods to soups and salad dressings.

4. Orthorexia Isn’t Usually Driven by Poor Body Image

Unlike several other types of eating disorders, individuals normally aren’t obsessed with the size or shape of their bodies. Their appearance isn’t usually the primary factor driving the need to eat a certain way. This disorder is about the quality of the food and the specific ingredients in everything that is eaten. Maintaining a strict eating routine is more about the inside of the body, the state of overall health, and staying away from any type of food that is regarded as harmful.

What causes orthorexia isn’t entirely understood. Just as with other eating disorders, genetics and psychological factors likely play a role. Disorders.org states that there may be a correlation between recent changes in culture and the development of certain eating disorders. Just as social media and the proliferation of extremely thin celebrities may have contributed to anorexia nervosa, a rise in the popularity of organic and clean living in recent years may be contributing to individuals developing orthorexia. While culture is not the sole cause of eating disorders it may be a contributing factor when a person develops these conditions. 

5. There Is an Obsession with Labels and Ingredients

A person experiencing orthorexia will constantly be reading and examining food labels. This may include reading entire cans, packages, etc., of food to make sure that every ingredient or the preparation methods are known before eating the food. There are several types of foods that those with orthorexia will look for when planning to prepare meals. Some terms they’ll look for include raw, vegan, organic, whole, and farm-fresh.

According to Eat Right, someone with orthorexia might also obsessively follow lifestyle and nutrition blogs and websites. Besides just reading labels and ingredients on specific foods they are purchasing, individuals with this condition will continually seek out all the information they can find on pure eating. The constant change in eating advice and new information that is always coming out concerning what is good and not good to eat may completely consume a person with orthorexia.

6. Severe Emotional Distress Can Occur

If individuals believe they have eaten something that doesn’t have clean ingredients it can cause them to experience extreme emotional distress. The person may have inadvertently eaten something unacceptable and after learning that it has been consumed this person might experience anxiety, depression, shame, or extreme guilt. Since social interactions so often revolve around food, adhering to a strict eating routine may also be a cause of social isolation. While many individuals adhere to a special diet, most are flexible enough to occasionally eat different items at holidays and other social gatherings. A person with orthorexia will face great emotional distress when deciding between participating in social events with family and friends or maintaining their eating routine.

Sometimes anxiety may occur simply being around specific kinds of foods. A person might leave a room or an area if a particular food or type of food is there. People with this disorder may also become unusually preoccupied with what others are eating as well. They may become distressed if they see others they care about eating foods they deem unsafe or inappropriate. Some people with orthorexia may also start taking natural supplements to make up for the nutrients and calories they’re no longer receiving.

7. Symptoms and Consequences May Mimic Anorexia Nervosa

While orthorexia and anorexia nervosa are two distinct conditions, they do share several of the same symptoms and consequences. For this reason, orthorexia in adolescence may often be confused with anorexia nervosa. The following are several symptoms and health consequences that occur in people with orthorexia that are often seen in individuals with anorexia nervosa.  

Extremely Rigid Eating Patterns‍

Any food deemed unacceptable by the person will be avoided. If individuals with this condition are in a situation in which only something “inappropriate” is available to eat, they will go without eating instead of eating this particular food.

Abnormal Weight Loss‍

While not everyone experiencing orthorexia will exhibit extreme weight loss, many will. They are most likely not trying to lose weight, but it’s a natural consequence of extremely limiting their food choices.

Medical Problems‍

A person with either orthorexia or anorexia nervosa may have electrolyte imbalances. This specifically includes low blood potassium, chloride, and sodium. They might experience gastrointestinal and kidney problems. There may also be malnutrition due to limited food intake. 

Cognitive Impairment‍

Most individuals who become malnourished, whether due to an eating disorder, chronic dieting, or a medical condition, will experience some degree of cognitive impairment. Their ability to think clearly and rationally will be greatly reduced. This, unfortunately, may decrease their ability to see any problems with their current eating patterns.

8. Orthorexia Is Often Associated with Anxiety Disorders

The National Institutes of Health describes orthorexia as a pathological obsession. There is often a connection between orthorexia and anxiety disorders or traumatic events. 

Anxiety Disorders‍

There are several anxiety disorders including generalized anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Panic Disorder, and Social Phobia. It is not unusual for an individual to have any of these disorders along with orthorexia. 

Trauma‍

A person who has lost a loved one due to obesity or heart disease may feel compelled to eat a certain way to avoid experiencing the same thing. Instead of dealing with the underlying issues, the person will attempt to “take control” over their life by controlling their diet.

Orthorexia treatment will need to include treating any of these co-occurring disorders. Treatment for orthorexia as well as anxiety often will include types of psychotherapy. Treatment may also include methods to help reintroduce certain foods to an individual that may have previously been avoided. 

Monte Nido Residential and Outpatient Treatment

Monte Nido provides both residential and outpatient treatment for a variety of eating disorders, including orthorexia treatment. A team of highly trained professionals would evaluate a person upon admission and create an individualized treatment plan to meet each person’s specific needs. Monte Nido provides a variety of extensive psychotherapy, relationship groups, and nutritional counseling. Their team of experts can offer nutritional guidance based on mindful eating.

Monte Nido and our adolescent brand, Monte Nido Clementine, also offers academic support for adolescents, family programs, parent education, and coached family meals. We provide a high level of psychiatric care, including orthorexia counseling, in a homelike setting. We help adolescents navigate through the challenges of learning how to make positive eating choices. Contact us for more information.

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Very few things can be quite as terrifying for parents than trying to navigate eating disorder treatment and recovery for their child. Should parents start looking at residential treatment services or is an outpatient or day treatment a better option? Whether teens need access to both medical and psychiatric care or they have severe enough behavioral issues to necessitate a residential teen program, one thing is for certain: catching it early on is essential.

In fact, research shows that early intervention is a key predictive factor in recovery from most mental health disorders in general. And since common eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa carry so much risk of health consequences, parents need to act quickly to find the best treatment option for their child. Interested in learning more about the benefits of residential treatment centers for teens? Read on to learn when teen residential treatment is the right call or if another option is best.

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Teen Residential Treatment for Eating Disorders and Early Intervention

Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate out of any known mental health condition – and they tend to be during the teenage years. This severity is because eating disorders carry more physical symptoms when compared to other mental health illnesses. While mental health conditions like anxiety and depression can have hugely negative effects on the lives of their sufferers, unlike eating disorders, they don’t always show many physical health complications. But eating disorders can quickly lead to many different serious and potentially life-threatening health issues. Some of the most common health issues that teens with eating disorders may experience include diabetes, organ failure, cancer, and even death.

This makes early intervention and finding the right residential treatment services extremely important for a successful and long-term recovery. While it might look like a teenager experiencing an eating disorder is choosing to hurt themselves, it absolutely is not the case. They’re caught in a behavioral loop and may not see a way out. Teens and adults who have an eating disorder often don’t understand the severity of their illness and are typically reluctant to seek out help. That’s where an early intervention by the parents should come into play.

Residential Programs for Teens: What Are the Options?

Residential treatment centers for teens can be extremely beneficial for adolescents with more severe cases of disorders, or who need psychiatric or medical care in addition to therapy. At our teen residential treatment programs, adolescent clients have access to the highest level of care available outside of a hospital setting. However, such intensive levels of care might not be the right choice for each case. Understanding the differences between inpatient vs residential eating disorder treatment can help guide the best decision.

Inpatient vs. Residential Eating Disorder Treatment

As an alternative to residential treatment centers for teenagers with extreme medical needs, inpatient hospitalization treatment is designed to help individuals who are medically or psychiatrically unstable. As an example, malnutrition or medically severe weight loss can impact the treatment methodology and teens in these situations can benefit from an inpatient hospitalization setting where experienced medical professionals can assist before continuing with eating disorder counseling. 24-hour monitoring by doctors and nurses is another feature in these critical cases.

Typically, patients only stay in an inpatient hospitalization treatment facility for 3 to 4 weeks. However, every person is different. Once they are considered to be medically stable, they are transferred to a less intense level of care program. This would likely be a residential treatment center.

Day Treatment: Intensive Outpatient (IOP) & Partial Hospital Programs (PHP)

Similar to teen residential treatment, Day Treatment are ideal for patients who need a bit more support than what is offered in outpatient care. With an intensive outpatient treatment program (IOP), patients can meet with their treatment teams about 2 to 3 times per week for up to about 3 to 5 hours each day. During treatment, they will have access to eating disorder counseling, group therapy, nutritional therapy, structured meals and more. This type of treatment is recommended for those who are medically and psychiatrically stable.

If the need is greater, there are also partial hospital care programs (PHP). In these cases a client will meet with the medical and psychiatric teams frequently but not 24-hours-a-day – typically 5 to 7 days each week for several hours a day. It requires a large time commitment.

For both, clients can still live at home whenever they are not in treatment and, in most cases, can keep up with work and school commitments.

Some centers, like Monte Nido also have virtual adolescent IOP and PHP programs to accommodate clients from wherever they may be.

Outpatient Care

This type of treatment allows fora regular counseling pattern while permitting time to maintain a regular work or school schedule. The large majority of people receiving help for mental health disorders do so on an outpatient basis, but when medical or psychiatric needs are more severe, it might not be the best option.

With outpatient care, adolescents in treatment will see their therapist or nutritionist once or twice each week. Additionally, they may also need to keep up with regular visits to their physician or psychiatrist to help monitor their status. While this may seem like the easiest treatment option to parents, it is important to keep in mind that clients should be matched with the appropriate care level to best fit their needs.

Residential Treatment Specialized for Teens

Residential treatment centers for teens offer patients and their families access to a longer-term treatment than inpatient hospitalization. This is an appropriate choice for teenage clients who are medically stable but still need extensive behavioral and emotional therapy to reach a level of psychological stability that would allow them to enjoy significant control over their eating disorder behaviors.

Residential treatment services are often recommended if adolescents are unable to make significant progress towards a recovered life in outpatient or partial hospitalization treatment. Additionally, residential treatment centers are a great option for those who have completed an inpatient hospitalization program and need additional time for recovery in a safe and structured setting.

When Is Teen Residential Treatment the Right Call?

Without a doubt, the primary benefit of teen residential treatment is access to round-the-clock, 7-days per week coverage in a safe, intimate environment. While school time will be missed, adolescent patients are able to focus their time and attention on getting well and learning new skills that will help them navigate life in the outside world. And the best services will offer tutoring and class time to ensure they don’t fall behind.

While the length of stay can vary based on patient diagnosis and the programs available, families should plan on their children being in treatment for anywhere from 30 to 90 days. Following discharge, an aftercare program, often including day treatment sessions can be implemented.

Residential treatment normally includes the standard therapeutic models and educational time, but the best centers will include life-enhancing experiences aimed at helping teens in recovery get the most out of life. They will have the chance to attend concerts and plays, visit parks and zoos, and enjoy other excursions. Additionally, patients usually have access to a variety of different group therapies, nutritional counseling, art, dance, music therapy, and even yoga and meditation classes.

What Are the Options Following Residential Treatment for Teenagers?

Since the average age of onset for eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa is in the high school years, it is important to look out for the early warning signs of eating disorders. Some of the personality traits that many teens with eating disorders include perfectionism, sensitivity, and high-achieving tendencies. That means that returning to a structured, stressful situation like school, with its grades and often athletic competition, can be dangerous in terms of triggering relapses. So how can recovered teens maintain their healthy behaviors after residential treatment?

Building a Support System After Adolescent Eating Disorder Treatment

Having a strong support system of family, friends, teachers and medical professionals is the best way to ensure that teens can successfully enter back into their work and school lives after completing treatment for an eating disorder. In some cases, it may even be helpful for family members and close friends to attend eating disorder counseling sessions with the patient, so that everyone is on the same page. In fact, certain eating disorder therapies actually require that family members work a treatment plan along with their teen to help establish a healthy relationship with food and avoid falling back into past eating disorder behaviors.

Transitioning from Teen Residential Treatment Back to Daily Life

After treatment, many teens re-entering the daily grind can feel overwhelmed by the return of responsibilities and social pressures. It’s essential to find ways to reduce stress. Most importantly, it is smart to take things easy and not to try and take on too much at any one time. This could mean reducing or eliminating extracurricular activities, even for a semester following their return to school, or asking them to quit their afterschool job. None of these have to be permanent, but teens in recovery should not push themselves too hard – stresses can bring relapses.

A very important consideration should be that transitioning back into sports should be approached slowly. Because many student-athletes are under pressure to maintain a certain body shape or weight, it’s important to closely monitor this transition and work with their coaches to be on the lookout for any eating disorder warning signs. Many people with eating disorders also have issues with excessive or compulsive exercise, and teenagers who have just got back from residential treatment should make a concerted effort to avoid stressors, at least in the short term.

Are There Teen Residential Treatment Centers Nearby?

Want to find a reputable residential treatment center near you? At Monte Nido, we specialize in providing adolescent eating disorder treatment in a relaxed, safe and comfortable home-like setting. With access to both medical and psychiatric care, our patients can enjoy the highest level of care outside of a hospital setting. We are happy to work with young patients and their families to ensure that they have the tools they need to make a successful recovery and navigate life after completing treatment. Our treatment programs are designed to help teens replace their eating disorder behaviors with healthy life skills and a deep understanding of how to embrace a life that reflects their individuality.

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It’s common for tweens and teenagers to stay quiet about their emotions and the troubles they may face. As they gain independence from their parents and move into adulthood, teenagers want to handle things for themselves, or they might feel embarrassed about their emotions or their physical appearance. 

Unfortunately, this hesitation to share may lead them to choose to stay silent about their troubles when approached by parents, family, or even friends. Everyone needs privacy as part of their lives, however hiding negative feelings about their weight, body, and appearance can lead to the development of disordered eating behaviors. As the symptoms of an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa develop, they might feel intense guilt and shame and refuse to talk about it. For parents asking, "how can I help my child with an eating disorder?", knowing when and how to start that conversation is crucial. Without help from their parents, many may wait far too long to seek out eating disorder treatment. Knowing how to talk about an eating disorder with empathy and patience can make a significant difference.

Parents can help their adolescent children open up and discuss their ED symptoms by imbuing each talk with confidence and using the following tips, which can help remove self-imposed barriers to discussion and start to engage in real, honest dialogue. Talking about ED is difficult for both parents and teens – but it’s the first step in saving a life.

That said, the first step is to know what to look for in terms of what eating disorders look like.

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The Signs & Symptoms of Common Eating Disorders

It’s important for parents to enter each conversation about eating disorders with their teen feeling confident and knowledgeable. A good start for parents is learning about eating disorders and the signs associated with them. 

With a strong knowledge base, parents can point out behavioral symptoms they’ve observed with more confidence and hopefully convince their child to open up. This knowledge can also help the teen to understand that disordered eating behaviors can cause serious health risks. Common symptoms of eating disorders include:

Anorexia Nervosa: 

• Urge to restrict eating
• Fear of gaining weight
• Distorted and negative body image
• Low self-esteem
• Weight loss
• Malnutrition

Bulimia Nervosa:

• Recurrent and frequent binge eating episodes
• Purging behaviors after the episodes
  
  • This is most commonly self-induced vomiting but can also take form as laxative abuse, diuretic abuse, excessive exercise or other methods
• Damage to fingers (from forced vomiting)
• Damage to the throat and teeth
• Malnutrition

Binge Eating Disorder:

• Frequent and recurrent binge-eating episodes
• Frequent dieting, without weight loss
• Sudden changes in weight
• Low self-esteem and body image

If you see these symptoms in your child, it’s worth doing further research and getting ready for a hard conversation. Once armed with the data, here’s a breakdown of how to approach your teenager and discuss eating disorders.

How to Talk About an Eating Disorder: Keep the Pressure Low

Many people with ED experience a strong sense of perfectionism. Teens may fear disappointing their parents if they engage in a discussion about their symptoms honestly. With too much pressure, they may shut down completely, which doesn’t help anyone to make progress in recovery from eating disorders.

To overcome this dilemma, parents need to leave the pressure and expectations at the door and simply offer compassion to their teens. This can be accomplished by avoiding any expressions that imply disappointment, anger, or sadness. The primary role of the family in ED recovery is to provide support –not to judge, not to coerce. 

Why Avoiding Judgment Is Critical When Talking to Your Teen About Eating Disorders 

This is related to the “no pressure” concept – a judgmental tone may make teens immediately shut down the conversation. Parents need to make it clear that they want to help resolve the behaviors, not place blame on the teenager for them. To effectively leave judgment at the door, parents must identify their most judgmental responses (often a knee-jerk reaction) and leave them out of the picture. 

When parents can avoid judgment in talks with their teens, they allow their compassion to shine through. This is what many teens need more than ever, especially when they are dealing with the symptoms of an eating disorder like anorexia nervosa. Without judgment, teens can share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences more easily. 

ABC – Always Be Compassionate When Discussing Eating Disorders

Anger and irritation have no place in a constructive conversation about eating disorders; compassionate communication opens the doors for deep talks about the risks of eating disorders and the importance of treatment. Remember, no matter how hard this conversation is for you as a parent, it’s tougher for them. Many people with eating disorders feel guilt and shame, even before getting a feeling that they’re being berated. In response to a lack of compassion, they may shut down completely.

Communicating with compassion requires parents to sincerely try to understand where their child is coming from emotionally and in terms of their body image. They must attempt to put themselves in their teens’ shoes to experience their daily stressors and the impact of those experiences. 

Use “I Feel” and Other “I” Statements

Saying something like “I feel there have been changes in the way you eat and I want to help” rather than “You are showing ED symptoms” helps teens from feeling attacked and defensive during each conversation about receiving a diagnosis and subsequent treatment. It’s much better to express your viewpoint gently than to cast (even perceived) aspersions.

Through the use of “I” statements, parents can express their love for their teens while addressing concerning issues. They can help their teens see their disordered eating behaviors from a new perspective, potentially helping them understand their need for professional help.

How Do I Talk to My Teen About Eating Disorders Without Making It a Confrontation?

While it’s tempting to hold an intervention or stake out time to have a serious conversation, it’s not always best to make a big to-do about the conversation. Parents can take advantage of the many small conversations families have throughout the day to make low-pressure inroads into a discussion about their possible ED.

Parents can find time to talk to their teens while:

• Driving to and from activities
• Getting ready for the day
• Preparing to go to bed
• Yardwork
• Cleaning the house

Parents can ask non-threatening questions like, “Did you like dinner tonight?” or “How are you feeling about that new pair of jeans?” which might lead the child to open up a little. These small conversations set a baseline of comfort discussing more difficult issues.

Share Why You’re Concerned About Their Eating Habits and Health

Parents need to share that the results of eating disorders can be severe and often worsen unless some changes are made. They should also discuss how disordered thought patterns and behaviors begin to overtake every aspect of life. 

Many teens with ED are ambitious and are involved in after school activities, including but not limited to athletics. The health risks of EDs can often impede participation in these valued activities (and act as triggers for further negative emotions). These health complications may include:

• Stomach pain
• Irregular heartbeat
• Low blood pressure
• Muscle cramps
• Poor focus
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Infections

It’s more than simply restricting their ability to engage in activities and academics, though. Serious medical problems can result from untreated eating disorders, such as pancreatitis, kidney disease, and heart failure.  

Be Patient: Supporting a Child with an Eating Disorder Takes Time

Even when using a compassionate, judgment-free approach, expect that your teen will be resistant to discuss their weight or body image, and just as resistant to accept that there needs to be a change in their eating habits. Eating disorders can cloud judgment – but parents can get past resistance by using patience while talking with their teens.

Parents should be ready to have several small conversations rather than one “fix-it” intervention. They also need to temper expectations and avoid reacting in frustration when the talks do not seem productive. It might not seem apparent that the adolescent is getting anything out of or taking any inspiration to get help. In fact, it may often appear they are rejecting the information outright and refusing to see the situation before them.

In most cases, they are listening but struggling to reconcile the emotions ED is making them feel with the advice they are receiving from their parents. The process can’t be rushed; as a parent, firm patience is key.If you’ve reached a “brick wall” and can’t make further progress, it’s time to consult a therapist or admissions specialist at an eating disorder treatment center.

Ask Them to Ask You Anything

Nobody likes a lecture. Your conversation about ED with your adolescent should be a dialogue, not a monologue. The ability to ask questions allows your teenager to explore the subject on their own terms. They can direct the conversation and feel more in control, which is essential to conquering eating disorders. 

Be prepared – depending on how receptive they feel to a discussion about an eating disorder, teens may not have a lot of questions at first. You should make sure they are comfortable before prompting them to ask questions. This will help allay the uncertainty and allow them to start to explore the questions surrounding eating disorders. Through this approach, parents and teens can work on demystifying their eating disorder and revealing it to be a mental health condition that can be resolved through treatment.

Here is where self-education and increasing knowledge about anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa will come in handy. Even without professional help, a knowledgeable parent can answer many of their teens’ questions with confidence. As long as you stay calm and compassionate, you can make your child more at ease and receptive to new ideas about treatment. If you’re unable to answer the questions, try researching the facts online, or getting help from admission specialists at an ED treatment center.

Inspire Action by Discussing Treatment and Recovery Options

As you engage in more and more talks about ED with your adolescent, you should begin to move toward a solution. Parents can inspire action by talking about the kinds of treatment methodologies that typically work best for individuals with eating disorders and that are used at treatment centers. They can help their teenagers learn about how to seek treatment and what to expect through every phase of the process.

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