Treatment for Eating Disorders

Treatment for Eating Disorders Fortunately, people with eating disorders can get well and gradually learn to eat normally again. Because anorexia and bulimia involve both the mind and body, medical doctors, mental health professionals, and dietitians will often be involved in a person's treatment and recovery.
Therapy or counseling is a critical part of treating eating disorders - in many cases, family therapy is one of the keys to eating healthily again. Parents and other family members are important in helping a person see that his or her normal body shape is perfectly fine and that being thin doesn't make anyone happy.
The most critical thing about treating eating disorders is to recognize and address the problem as soon as possible - like all bad habits, unhealthy eating patterns become harder to break the longer a person takes part in them. If you have an eating disorder, don't wait to get help - anorexia and bulimia can do a lot of damage to the body and mind if left untreated. At worst, eating disorders can kill, and at best, they leave a person feeling and looking terrible.
If you want to talk to someone about eating disorders and you don't feel as though you can approach a parent, try talking to a teacher, a neighbor, your doctor, or another trusted adult. Remember that eating disorders are common among teens, and more importantly, that treatment is out there.