Post by Mel on Dec 23, 2005 16:02:58 GMT -5
Supporting Young Women with Eating Disorders:
A Guide for Family Members & Close Friends
Eating disorders affect millions of young women. If you are reading this information guide, you may be a family member or close friend of someone struggling with an eating disorder. It is normal to feel helpless and confused at times. Learning about disordered eating can help you provide proper support. Keep in mind that all suggestions are not appropriate for everyone. This guide was created to offer ideas on how to help a young woman with an eating disorder. It is important to remember that this guide does not replace recommended treatment or care from a physician, counselor, or nutritionist.
The Road to Recovery
Be Patient. Try to look at health trends weekly, instead of daily. It is important to remember that it takes a long time for someone to develop an eating disorder. There are many different factors that can trigger disordered eating. Years of messages from the media, food industry, and peer groups contribute to dieting behaviors and unrealistic perceptions about body image. These messages negatively impact the thoughts of girls suffering from eating disorders. There is no quick fix or cure. Changes in thinking and behavior happen slowly. The road to recovery takes time.
Offering Support at Meals and Snack Time
Eat together. Meals and snack times are often the most difficult part of the day. Eating itself may cause anxiety and often requires support and supervision. Usually, young women struggling with an eating disorder feel very guilty for eating. If someone they trust eats with them, the experience of eating is more comfortable.
Keep conversation positive. Discuss neutral topics of conversation rather than focusing on food, calories, carbohydrates, or fat grams. Try to talk about something fun, like your favorite sports teams, hobbies or music.
Consider adopting a mealtime agreement. Agree in advance not to discuss disordered eating thoughts such as portion size, calories, carbohydrate, or fat content. Many young women with disordered eating have continuous negative thoughts about food. Mealtime agreements often work to reduce tension and stress associated with eating.
Plan ahead —as a family, agree on the structure of mealtimes: what time you will eat, the content of the meals (food selections), and who will be present at the meal.
Grocery Shopping, New Foods & Cooking
Grocery Shop Together. Explore your favorite grocery store or visit a different market. Check out new foods and set a goal to try one new food each week. Young women with disordered eating often have a small list of "safe foods" that they can tolerate eating. Usually, these foods are low in calories, carbs, and fat. During recovery, it is important to increase food choices. A nutritionist is very helpful with setting these goals.
Make sure that all foods that you will need for meals are available. This helps lessen worry at mealtime. Sometimes, if a food item is not available at the designated eating time, it can lead to panic and restricted food intake.
Cook together and try new recipes. Many young women like to cook with someone they trust. Learning how to cook provides another skill towards recovery. Trying new recipes also helps increase the safe foods list.
Healthy Attitude
Encourage new interests. Suggest new activities such as art classes, volunteering, music, or yoga. It is important to replace the unhealthy, disordered eating behaviors (excessive or ritualistic exercise patterns or restrictive dieting), with healthy interests. Young women struggling with eating disorders often have a small number of activities based on dieting, weight regulation, and exercise. It is difficult for young women to break away from these patterns; however, developing new interests can help reverse the eating disordered behaviors and over time improve self-esteem.
Plan a special event. Make an appointment for a new haircut, manicure, or massage. As young women recover from an eating disorder, their body shape, facial structure, hair texture, and overall appearance change. They often feel they do not deserve nice things. A special event can be a nice way of helping your teen or friend adjust to their new look. It also sends the message that they deserve to treat themselves to something fun.
Plan a shopping trip. Clothing sizes often fluctuate with recovery. Buy a few new pieces of clothing at a time versus buying an entire new wardrobe. Trying a new clothing store or going to a different mall can be fun.
A Guide for Family Members & Close Friends
Eating disorders affect millions of young women. If you are reading this information guide, you may be a family member or close friend of someone struggling with an eating disorder. It is normal to feel helpless and confused at times. Learning about disordered eating can help you provide proper support. Keep in mind that all suggestions are not appropriate for everyone. This guide was created to offer ideas on how to help a young woman with an eating disorder. It is important to remember that this guide does not replace recommended treatment or care from a physician, counselor, or nutritionist.
The Road to Recovery
Be Patient. Try to look at health trends weekly, instead of daily. It is important to remember that it takes a long time for someone to develop an eating disorder. There are many different factors that can trigger disordered eating. Years of messages from the media, food industry, and peer groups contribute to dieting behaviors and unrealistic perceptions about body image. These messages negatively impact the thoughts of girls suffering from eating disorders. There is no quick fix or cure. Changes in thinking and behavior happen slowly. The road to recovery takes time.
Offering Support at Meals and Snack Time
Eat together. Meals and snack times are often the most difficult part of the day. Eating itself may cause anxiety and often requires support and supervision. Usually, young women struggling with an eating disorder feel very guilty for eating. If someone they trust eats with them, the experience of eating is more comfortable.
Keep conversation positive. Discuss neutral topics of conversation rather than focusing on food, calories, carbohydrates, or fat grams. Try to talk about something fun, like your favorite sports teams, hobbies or music.
Consider adopting a mealtime agreement. Agree in advance not to discuss disordered eating thoughts such as portion size, calories, carbohydrate, or fat content. Many young women with disordered eating have continuous negative thoughts about food. Mealtime agreements often work to reduce tension and stress associated with eating.
Plan ahead —as a family, agree on the structure of mealtimes: what time you will eat, the content of the meals (food selections), and who will be present at the meal.
Grocery Shopping, New Foods & Cooking
Grocery Shop Together. Explore your favorite grocery store or visit a different market. Check out new foods and set a goal to try one new food each week. Young women with disordered eating often have a small list of "safe foods" that they can tolerate eating. Usually, these foods are low in calories, carbs, and fat. During recovery, it is important to increase food choices. A nutritionist is very helpful with setting these goals.
Make sure that all foods that you will need for meals are available. This helps lessen worry at mealtime. Sometimes, if a food item is not available at the designated eating time, it can lead to panic and restricted food intake.
Cook together and try new recipes. Many young women like to cook with someone they trust. Learning how to cook provides another skill towards recovery. Trying new recipes also helps increase the safe foods list.
Healthy Attitude
Encourage new interests. Suggest new activities such as art classes, volunteering, music, or yoga. It is important to replace the unhealthy, disordered eating behaviors (excessive or ritualistic exercise patterns or restrictive dieting), with healthy interests. Young women struggling with eating disorders often have a small number of activities based on dieting, weight regulation, and exercise. It is difficult for young women to break away from these patterns; however, developing new interests can help reverse the eating disordered behaviors and over time improve self-esteem.
Plan a special event. Make an appointment for a new haircut, manicure, or massage. As young women recover from an eating disorder, their body shape, facial structure, hair texture, and overall appearance change. They often feel they do not deserve nice things. A special event can be a nice way of helping your teen or friend adjust to their new look. It also sends the message that they deserve to treat themselves to something fun.
Plan a shopping trip. Clothing sizes often fluctuate with recovery. Buy a few new pieces of clothing at a time versus buying an entire new wardrobe. Trying a new clothing store or going to a different mall can be fun.