Angie Best-Boss - The Everything Parents Guide to Eating Disorders: The information plan you need to see the warning signs, help promote positive body image, and develop a recovery plan for your child

I am grateful for the dozens of professionals, parents, and children who shared their insight, expertise, and personal stories. A few of the professionals I am indebted to include Ashley Solomon, PsyD (www.nourishing-the-soul.com);
Margarita Tartakovsky, MS (http://blogs.psychcentral.com/weightless); Rosie Molinary (www.rosiemolinary.com), author
of Beautiful You: A Daily Guide to Radical Self-Acceptance and Hijas Americanas: Beauty, Body Image, and Growing Up Latina; Diane Keddy, MS, RD, FAED (www.dianekeddy.com);
Katja Rowell, MD (www.familyfeedingdynamics.com); and
Laura Stern (www.laurenlazarstern.com), author of The Slender Trap: A Food and Body Workbook.

eating disorder

(etng ds-rdr)

n. Serious, potentially life-threatening, biologically based mental illness, usually characterized by daily functioning affected by disordered body image, a preoccupation with and anxiety related to food and eating, and disordered eating.

E ating disorders are a prevalent and dangerous disease that affects millions of children, adolescents, and adults and can begin as young as six years old. Eating disorders can affect anyone, regardless of gender, race, age, or economic level or religious belief system. They have been found in every country in the world. It is a growing problem across all age groups.

Eating disorders are not easy to define, either. From starving oneself through anorexia nervosa, binge eating, binging and purging in bulimia, to night eating or having diabetes and refusing insulin in order to lose weight, the sheer range of potential disordered eating behaviors can feel overwhelming. What is a parent supposed to do?

First, parents must understand that while an eating disorder requires mental health treatment, it is a medical problem that often requires medical treatment. The longer an eating disorder continues, the greater the likelihood that significant medical problems will develop and may even be fatal. To make an accurate diagnosis and treatment even more challenging, many eating disorder sufferers have coexisting conditions, including depression, anxiety, self-mutilation, or substance abuse.

There is no such thing as a harmless eating disorder. A child does not have to be emaciated or even underweight for health problems to occur. After all, an overweight child who has a binge eating disorder has significant emotional and physical issues that need attention.

Eating disorders are biologically based mental illness and fully treatable with a combination of nutritional, medical, and therapeutic supports. However, getting a diagnosis and finding appropriate, evidence-based treatment is often a challenge.

Parents do not cause eating disorders, and if a health care provider or mental health specialist indicates otherwise, run to the nearest exit and seek treatment providers who are better informed regarding eating disorder research and treatment. Parents do, however, play a powerful role in their childrens recovery. And recovery is possible, even with a child or adolescent who insists there is not a problem and does not want to get help.

Some parents discover their childs eating disorder fairly early and are able to begin treatment quickly without needing medical intervention, while others may not be aware of their childs disorder until it has become an entrenched problem with medical problems that must be addressed before the eating disorder can be treated. Parental involvement is crucial at every stage of the eating disorder treatment process, regardless of how far the disease has progressed.