What to Do If You Think Your Kid Has an Eating Disorder

What to Do If You Think Your Kid Has an Eating Disorder Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention Print 7 Steps for When Your Child Has an Eating Disorder By Lauren Muhlheim, PsyD, CEDS facebook twitter linkedin Lauren Muhlheim, PsyD, is a certified eating disorders expert and clinical psychologist who provides cognitive behavioral psychotherapy. Learn about our editorial policy Lauren Muhlheim, PsyD, CEDS Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on February 22, 2017 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on December 12, 2019 Hero Images/Getty Images More in Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention Symptoms Treatment Diagnosis If your child, adolescent, or young adult is displaying signs of an eating disorder, including  anorexia nervosa,  bulimia nervosa, or  binge eating disorder, what should you do? In the past, parents were often taught that parental intervention with an eating disorder would make the problem worse. We now know this not to be the case: you are your child’s best ally in treatment. It is important to act rather than stand by and watch. An eating disorder  can be a medical crisis. In extreme cases,  it can be fatal. However, with early intervention, the chance of a full recovery is very good. 1. Trust Your Parental Instincts It is common for individuals with eating disorders to not even be aware they have a problem. This is called  anosognosia. Your child is likely to deny there is a problem when asked directly. Do not let this throw you off. Watch and observe him or her closely. Review  potential warning signs in children  and  signs  in older individuals. 2. Do Not Blame Yourself A common parental response to learning their child has any problem or illness is to blame oneself. Don’t!  Parents do not cause eating disorders. Any time you spend trying to understand what may have caused the eating disorder is the time you have wasted. Instead, focus your energy on helping your child get well by following the rest of the steps below. 3. Get Informed Being an informed mental health consumer will help you to help your child recover. Read and learn about eating disorders. You can find good information  here  and at the following websites: National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders (F.E.A.S.T)The Academy for Eating DisordersMaudsley Parents 4. Visit Your Pediatrician Make an appointment with your child’s pediatrician. Keep in mind that most pediatricians have little to no training in eating disorders. Thus, you might want to bring along  useful information, including the  medical guide from the Academy for Eating Disorders listing the vitals and laboratory tests that should be performed. Make a list of the reasons you are concerned. Make another list of questions for your doctor. Take notes during the appointment. Ask for a copy of your child’s growth charts and discuss them with the doctor. In the case of a child that has been losing weight, be especially wary if your pediatrician schedules a follow-up appointment several weeks away and suggests no interim course of action other than to observe if your child willingly puts on weight. This “wait and see” approach can be dangerous and you may need to be assertive about asking for a sooner follow-up and/or referrals. 5. Research Options for Treatment Ask your pediatrician for referrals to eating disorder specialists in your area. Additionally, research other treatment providers. The internet can provide a great deal of information, but keep in mind that some individual providers may not maintain websites so you may have to make phone calls and get recommendations. Familiarize yourself with the different types of treatment, including  family-based treatment, leading outpatient treatment for children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Learn about the  various levels of care  including outpatient, intensive outpatient (IOP), partial hospitalization (PHP), residential treatment (RTC), and medical hospitalization. Do not be swayed solely by beautiful marketing. Do your research. If you have insurance, call your insurance carrier and make sure you are familiar with your insurance benefits. Reputable sites to find treatment providers include: The National Eating Disorders AssociationThe Training Institute for Child and Adolescent Eating DisordersThe Alliance for Eating Disorders AwarenessThe Academy for Eating Disorders 6. Ask Questions Call and interview prospective treatment providers before you settle on one. Some questions you may want to ask potential treatment providers are available through the  NEDA  and  F.E.A.S.T. 7. Seek Support for Yourself Caring for a child with an eating disorder can be an overwhelming and isolating experience. Many parents benefit from the support and wisdom of other parents who have been there. Good support resources for parents include NEDA’s Parent, Family Friends Network  (PFN)  and the  Around the Dinner Table Forum of F.E.A.S.T. There are also some Facebook groups including International Eating Disorder Family support. Parent Eva Musby also maintains an  excellent website  with resources for parents.   When it comes to eating disorders, it is better to overreact than to underreact. The steps above are no-regret movesâ€"you will not create a problem if there is not already one there. And fortunately, early intervention greatly improves prognosis.