Family Support

Helpful hints

From: Help for Eating Disorders – A Parent’s Guide (2005). D. K. Katzman & L. Pinhas, Robert Rose: Toronto

8 STEPS TO EATING HEALTHY AGAIN

Eights key strategies for getting a child with an eating disorder to eat again.

1. Create clear expectations for eating and weight gain.

2. Set up valued rewards and enforce consequences linked to eating and weight gain.

3. Be upfront, truthful, predictable and consistent in all interactions.

4. Acknowledge how difficult, confusing or painful these changes can be.

5. Establish a safe emotional environment where all feelings can be expressed and where there is no fear that your child or anyone else will be allowed to lose control.

6. Assure your son or daughter that it is part of your job as a caring parent to not let them become physically sick in any way.

7. Always work with or talk to the ‘healthy voice’ that exists within your child (literally telling them that you don’t want to speak to their eating disorder, but are now talking to the healthy person).

8. Let your child know that there is other, non-eating disordered ways of achieving personal success and happiness, and that you are ready to help your child discover and pursue them.

9 STEPS TO RECOVERY

1. Recognise that eating disorders are complex.

2. Learn as much about eating disorders as possible.

3. Understand that young people with eating disorders come in all shapes, weights and sizes.

4. Keep in mind that the eating disorder is the illness, not the person.

5. Reassure yourself that parents don’t cause eating disorders.

6. Work with your children, as well as your children’s teachers, coaches, and counsellors, to prevent abnormal eating attitudes and behaviours.

7. Support your child in the process of assessing and treating the eating disorder.

8. Don’t forget to take care of yourself and your family.

9. Be hopeful even though recovery can be a hard and long process.