How to Get Help for an Anorexic Teen

Anorexia is a serious and sometimes life-threatening eating disorder whose sufferers often starve themselves to lose excessive amounts of weight. 90 to 95 percent of those with anorexia are girls and young women. If you suspect your teen is anorexic, follow these steps to get her the help she needs.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Spot the warning signs. Anorexic teens often skip meals, refuse to eat in front of others, obsess over food labels, weigh themselves constantly and exercise compulsively.
2. Address the problem as soon as you suspect your teen may have anorexia. The longer the illness goes untreated, the harder it is for your teen to recover.
3. Seek out therapy or counseling. Family therapy is often a critical step on the pathway to recovery for anorexic teens. Parents play an important role in shaping teens' perceptions of their bodies.
4. Talk with your teen about unattainable images of physical perfection she may see in the media. Magazines, movies and television shows promote unrealistic ideals of beauty, and it's essential that your teen realizes that her self-worth is not tied to her weight or her outward appearance.
5. Research outpatient treatment options, which your local hospital probably offers. Outpatient treatment includes group counseling, where your teen can talk to other people who are suffering from anorexia, as well as sessions with professional counselors or therapists.
6. Consider in-patient treatment, where your child stays in a facility for at least two weeks and undergo intense treatment for anorexia. In these facilities, your teen's physical health is monitored on a daily basis, her eating and nutrition are scrutinized and she attends both private and group therapy sessions.

Tips & Warnings

• In addition to developing odd behaviors about food, anorexic teens may withdraw from friends and family members. They also may lose interest in activities they previously enjoyed.
• It's common for teens to relapse following treatment, so closely monitor her behavior. If you notice the warning signs of anorexia emerging again, immediately seek out help for her once again.
• Some teens require several in-patient stays before they recover.