What to Do If My Child Suffers from Anorexia Nervosa

First off, let me give you some background information on anorexia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is a psychological disorder in which one feels that their body weight is a direct reflection of their self esteem. They feel that if they don't starve themselves that they are failing themselves. Let me make this point very clear: anorexia nervosa is not about weight, food intake, or anything relating to body composition; anorexia is triggered by control issues. If one feels that they have no control in their life, they restrict their food intake in order to maintain a sense of control.

Anorexia is a very difficult disorder to treat and will probably take a long time to attain relapse-free recovery. The most difficult part of anorexia is convincing someone that they have a disorder. Anorectics are usually proud of their disorder and feel that they cannot live without it. This is unlike bulimia. Bulimics are ashamed of their disorder and desire to change. The hardest part in treating anorexia is instilling the desire to change, this is why it takes an average of seven years to fully treat anorexia.

How do I know if my child is anorectic? If you notice your child eating less and less and if they complain about dizziness, fatigue, amenorrhea (cessation of menstruation), stomach pains, and/or feeling cold (even in warm weather) then your child might be anorectic. Also, if you notice a significant loss of body weight (loss of 15% or more within two months) along with any combination of the above symptoms, then your child is probably experiencing anorectic tendencies. Any diet that consists of nine hundred calories or less is considered a starvation diet. Observe what your children eat, but do not make it a point to ask them if they've eaten nor should you be blatant about your observation, this would cause a rise in the desire to control due to a perceived loss of control.