According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), eating disorders are one major cause of death among teenage girls. This is why parents who notice signs of anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating problems in their teenage daughters should seek eating disorder treatment for them right away.

Treatment is best provided by centers that specialize in eating disorders because they have nutritionists, psychiatrists, and other medical professionals to evaluate, plan, and coordinate personalized treatment methods and oversee the recovery of a patient. These professionals address various aspects of the condition to help patients recover through methods such as nutritional counseling, hypnotherapy, medication, and hospitalization, among others.

Nutritional Counseling

Nutritionists do more than educate patients on how to achieve a balanced and healthy diet. They help patients trust eating food once again, making nutritional counseling an important step in eating disorder treatment.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy in anorexia or bulimia treatment includes intensive personalized one-on-one sessions and family counseling. Eating disorders are more than just a physical health problem. These often coexist with other psychological issues such as depression, anxiety, addiction, alcoholism or obsessive-compulsive disorder, which require psychiatric assistance.

Medication

As eating disorders are associated with biochemical abnormalities in the brain and body, medications and hospitalization (in severe cases) are recommended. For instance, antidepressants often help eating disorder clients to maintain abstinance. Moreover, specific drugs such as fluoxetine and topamax are given for bulimia treatment.

These treatments are performed in coordination with one another because eating disorders are characterized by different aspects. These do not only affect psychological or physical health, but also a person's behavior and relationship with other people. Coordinating the various treatments allows for holistic healing in patients.

Parents should act quickly if they see any signs of eating disorder in their teenage daughters.