Anorexia Nersova

How are eating disorders treated?

Treatment will be different depending on the type of eating disorder your friend or relative has.

Talking therapies

It will usually involve some kind of talking therapy because help with eating and getting to a healthy weight, if needed, is usually not enough.Your friend or relative will talk to a therapist about the emotional difficulties that led to their eating disorder, and they will learn healthier ways to cope with these feelings. Their treatment may also involve them working through a guided self-help programme.

Family therapy

Some people may also have family therapy, which is a type of group therapy. The person with the eating disorder is encouraged to work with family members to try to treat their eating disorder.Family therapy usually involves parents and siblings, but may sometimes include close friends or other family members.

Length of treatment

Treatment will take place over several months, so your friend or relative can get used to the changes slowly . The earlier they start, the better their chances of making a good recovery.During their treatment, they will also have regular health checks to look after their physical health.Find eating disorders services in your areaRead more about how eating disorders are treated

If a friend or relative has an eating disorder, such as anorexia, bulimia or binge eating disorder, you will probably want to do everything you can to help them recover.

You're already doing a great job by finding out more about eating disorders and how to try to support them – it shows you care and helps you understand how they might be feeling.

Getting professional help from a doctor, practice nurse, or a school or college nurse will give your friend or relative the best chance of getting better.

But this can be one of the most difficult steps for someone living with an eating disorder, so try to encourage them to get help or offer to go along with them.You can support them in other ways, too: