| Eating disorder treatment centers say that an | | | | other half was asked to join a traditional |
| eating disorder is not just a big problem for a | | | | psychotherapy. Six months down the line, it was |
| teen but for her entire family as well. After all, it | | | | found that the success rate of the teens who |
| is a psychological issue in which the person feels | | | | had the strong backing of family therapy was |
| inadequate and sinful for eating more than needed. | | | | twice more successful than the ones who |
| In certain cases, teens have been found to eat | | | | received traditional psychotherapy. This |
| too much to mask a stressful episode in their | | | | information can be found in the Archives of |
| lives. It has been proved that parental | | | | General Psychiatry. |
| involvement can definitely make the teen improve | | | | Why does family therapy prove to be such a |
| her condition faster. | | | | strong catalyst? Well, the therapist who works |
| The National Eating Disorders Association has | | | | with the family helps in empowering family |
| stated that about 10 million females and 1 million | | | | members to guide the child in eating the right |
| men suffer from eating disorders. It has been | | | | meals at the right time and recovering their health. |
| seen that more than 90 percent of people who | | | | The family actually becomes a huge driving force |
| suffer from eating disorders are girls between the | | | | in setting things right with the noble power called |
| ages of 12 and 25. Two types of disorders have | | | | 'love'. |
| been identified: bulimia and anorexia nervosa. In | | | | Here are some ways parents can make a huge |
| the case of bulimia, a person begins to eat too | | | | difference in making a teen recover faster: |
| much and then purges while in case of anorexia | | | | 1. Give emotional help: The very presence of |
| nervosa, a person stays away from food for | | | | loving family members can be a strong emotional |
| days to become thin and thinks that she is fat | | | | support to the teen. |
| even when she is no way close to that | | | | 2. Education and bridging the gap: The involvement |
| perception. | | | | of the parents in the treatment procedure can |
| Experts have found that poor parental control is a | | | | actually bring them closer to the children and |
| reason for such patterns in the child. For instance, | | | | bridge the generation gap. Parents can read about |
| mothers who are too authoritative and fathers | | | | bulimia, anorexia nervosa and identify with the |
| who are not in touch with the child can make the | | | | plagues that seize the minds of youngsters today. |
| latter prone to eating disorder. Nutritionists | | | | 3. Accepting the problem: When parents come to |
| conclude that eating disorder is a real illness and | | | | know about eating disorders and the treatment |
| not just a mere lifestyle choice. Parents definitely | | | | plan being charted out, they begin to accept that |
| can play a big role in recovery of teens in | | | | their child has a psychological disorder and become |
| developing a healthy train of thought toward food. | | | | the agents of positive change. |
| Eating disorder treatment centers cite numerous | | | | 4. Individualistic treatment: The presence of |
| examples in which teens have been able to gain | | | | parents in the treatment plan can give a sense of |
| control over their eating problems when they | | | | individuality to the treatment plan because they |
| have got family support. There was a study also | | | | will be appeal to reach out to their kids and advice |
| conducted among 80 teens, out of which half | | | | their kids in the best possible, loving and unique |
| were put in a family therapy program while the | | | | way. |