What to Do When Treating Anorexia

One of the biggest challenges in treating anorexia is the fact that most people who suffer from it are in denial. They don't believe they are underweight or engaged in dangerous eating habits. For that reason, diagnosing the eating disorder in its early stages can be difficult.

To figure out if someone is suffering from the eating disorder, doctors run tests to determine whether physical problems may be causing unintentional weight loss. Once anorexia is diagnosed, both the physical and emotional issues must be treated. The first objective is to increase the patient's body weight to a healthier range, improve eating habits, and address related physical problems. If the patient's body weight is 30 percent below normal, he or she is likely to be hospitalized and may even need intravenous feeding.

Emotional issues may be treated with psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, support groups, and antidepressant drug therapy. Psychotherapy involves talking with a therapist to figure out the causes and extent of one's emotional problems. Behavioral therapy is a way of trying to modify behavior through reward or punishment. In support groups, people dealing with similar problems help each other get better. With antidepressant drug therapy, a physician prescribes medication that can help the patient deal with feelings associated with depression.

Unfortunately, anorexia is not easily cured. A 15-year survival study published in 1997 by International Journal of Eating Disorder and a 10-year survival study published in 1995 by Psychological Medicine showed that 30 to 50 percent of patients treated successfully in the hospital become ill again within one year of leaving the hospital. A number of researchers are experimenting with treatment programs that may prevent relapses. A 1998 study published by Clinical Psychology Review has found that a kind of psychotherapy known as cognitive-behavioral therapy, which tries to change a person's attitudes in order to change their behaviors, can lower relapse rates.

Q & A

Question: My friend has many of the warning signs of anorexia. When I try to talk to her about it, she just won't listen. How can I help her?

Answer: Drop the subject for a while because she needs your friend-Kip. In the meantime, mention your concerns to her parents, teachers, and anyone else you think she respects. You never know who might get through to her. You can also discuss your concerns with an expert in eating disorders. Try ANAD's toll-free hot line Monday through Friday from 10 am. to 6 pm. Eastern Time at 847-831-3438 or find them on the web at www.anad.org.