13-year-old Tricia has been picking at her food, double-checking the calorie count of everything she eats, leaving a lot of food uneaten on the plate, and sometimes refusing to eat at all. She was never heavy to begin with, but her mother now thinks she looks at least 10 pounds lighter. She suspects that Tricia might have an eating disorder but she isn't sure. What is the most important thing for her, and other parents in similar situations, to do first if they suspect their child has an eating disorder?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Parents who suspect their child has an eating disorder should trust their instincts and get help. There are many excellent programs available-both day programs and residential treatment programs-tailored to each child's specific needs. When medical intervention is necessary because the dieting, overeating, or purging has impacted on the child's health, finding an appropriate program is critical. Both denial on the parents' part and well-intentioned but inappropriate or medically unsound attempts to help the child can backfire and wind up actually hurting the child.

13-Year-Old Tricia Has Been Picking at Her Food, Double-Checking the Calorie