| According to the National Institutes of
| |
| | While concerned parents can't force
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| Health, about 0.5 to 3.7 percent of girls
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| | children with anorexia to stop, it is
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| and women will develop anorexia nervosa
| |
| | imperative to support them in their
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| over a lifetime, and around 1.1 to 4.2
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| | struggles. More and more, doctors and
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| percent will develop bulimia nervosa.
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| | patients advocate family-centered
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| Nearly 0.5 percent of anorexics die each
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| | therapy-letting parents back into the
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| year from the illness, making it one of
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| | treatment process. For decades, parents
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| the top psychiatric illnesses to cause
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| | were seen as an anorexic's biggest
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| death.
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| | problem and were even blamed as the cause
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| Those suffering from anorexia are
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| | for the disorder. Research has shown that
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| extremely fearful of gaining extra weight
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| | while parents can influence a child's
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| and may exhibit negative behaviors and
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| | eating disorder, they are typically not
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| actions leading to severe weight loss.
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| | the cause. Known as the Maudsley approach
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| Pounds are lost by over-exercising and
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| | (after the London-based hospital it was
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| restricting calorie intake. Anorexics
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| | developed in), family-centered therapy
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| view their bodies in a distorted way.
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| | focuses on helping parents become a
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| When they look in the mirror, despite
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| | support system. Food is the "medicine" to
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| being dangerously thin, they see
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| | treat the illness, and doctors coach
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| themselves as too heavy. For concerned
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| | parents and their child through meals and
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| parents who have children with anorexia,
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| | appropriate behavior in a clinical
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| there is an array of assistance available
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| | setting. After a few tries, families are
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| from programs at hospitals, treatment
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| | then sent home to continue the treatment.
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| centers, and clinics specializing in
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| | Patients benefit from the love and
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| eating disorder recovery.
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| | support afamily network provides.
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| One of the problems in overcoming
| |
| | Regardless of the approach settled on,
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| anorexia is that those with the illness
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| | for any treatment program to be
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| don't usually see it that way-that don't
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| | successful, those with anorexia need the
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| think they are sick. If somebody with
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| | continued support of family and friends.
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| anorexia is in immediate danger, they
| |
| | Following is advice for parents, courtesy
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| might need emergency care for
| |
| | of The National Eating Disorders
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| malnourishment, including dehydration and
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| | Foundation (
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| electrolyte imbalances.
| |
| | Educate yourself about eating disorders.
|
| Long-term treatment entails a team effort
| |
| | Read as much material as you can in
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| with professionals trained in eating
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| | magazines, books, articles, and
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| disorders, including dieticians, mental
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| | brochures.
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| health professionals, medical doctors,
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| | Understand the differences between facts
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| and treatment centers:
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| | and myths about weight, nutrition, and
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| - Dieticians. A dietitian will create
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| | exercise. Being armed with facts will
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| meal plans and monitor calorie intake to
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| | help you reason with your child about the
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| implement a healthy diet. However,
| |
| | misconceptions they adhere to.
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| there's more to recovering from an eating
| |
| | Be truthful. Don't be afraid to voice
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| disorder than changing one's eating
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| | your concerns to a child who struggles
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| habits.
| |
| | with eating or body image issues.
|
| - Mental Health Professionals. People who
| |
| | Pretending the problem doesn't exist does
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| suffer from anorexia suffer emotionally
| |
| | not help.
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| and mentally as well. They need change
| |
| | Be loving, yet firm. Loving your means
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| the way they view themselves to boost
| |
| | you hold them accountable for their
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| their self-esteem, and their mood can
| |
| | actions and the consequences of those
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| benefit from carefully prescribed and
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| | actions. It does not mean you let them
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| monitored antidepressants. Psychiatric
| |
| | manipulate you. Do not make rules or
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| treatment sessions typically last at
| |
| | promise you can't or don't intend to
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| least a year and take place one-on-one,
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| | uphold, such as "I won't tell anyone" or
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| with family, or with other people with
| |
| | "If you do this anymore I won't ever
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| eating disorders.
| |
| | speak with you."
|
| - Medical Providers. While those still in
| |
| | Sincerely compliment your child on their
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| the early stages (less than 6 months)
| |
| | terrific personality, accomplishments, or
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| typically avoid hospital stays, for
| |
| | contributions. Reinforce the idea that
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| people with advanced cases, checking into
| |
| | beauty is not just skin deep.
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| a unit for anorexia or bulimia may be
| |
| | Be a positive example in regard to your
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| required. People with anorexia need
| |
| | own eating, exercising, and
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| constant monitoring of electrolytes,
| |
| | self-acceptance.
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| hydration levels, and vital signs. A
| |
| | Know when to share. It can be hard to
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| doctor should be involved in the on-going
| |
| | know if you should share your concerns
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| medical treatment.
| |
| | with somebody else, if at all. By
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| - Treatment Centers. Clinics across the
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| | addressing issues with eating or body
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| country provide a live-in environment for
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| | image early, you stand a better chance of
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| children suffering from anorexia. These
| |
| | working through the issues with your
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| centers provide a treatment
| |
| | child. Don't wait to seek help until your
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| team-dieticians, psychiatrists, and
| |
| | child is extremely sick. They need as
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| doctors-under one roof. Such programs
| |
| | much support from you as possible.
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| entail an extended stay.
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|
