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Eating Disorders and Parents
Do More Than Just Survive Your Child's Eating Disorder

By Matthew Tiemeyer, About.com

Updated: February 23, 2009

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Any health concern for a child is hard to bear, and eating disorders hit parents in a very sensitive place -- their desire for their children to be safe, healthy and well-nourished. Anorexia and bulimia challenge parents to wonder whether they've been "good enough" in raising their children.

A parent's influence can be vital in helping prevent eating disorders and supporting recovery if they do occur. How you interact with your child makes a huge difference.

Parenting to Promote Health and Avoid Eating Disorders

Understanding of how families and eating disorders interact is vital. Your influence is profound and, thankfully, something that you can control.

Parents Can Protect Against These Eating Disorder Risks

It's not often easy to tell where an eating disorder came from in a teen. But many influences can make them more likely. Know the possibilities and evaluate the risk factors in the lives of your children.

Encouraging Treatment and Recovery From Eating Disorders

You think your loved one may have an eating disorder. What next? And what happens after that? It's time to take action, but in a way that helps rather than hurts.

Parenting When the Eating Disorder Has Arrived

Even the best parenting sometimes isn't enough to stop an eating disorder from arising in a daughter or son. If it happens, you have a different kind of task ahead of you as you care for your child. Being good parents means nurturing your relationship as partners whenever possible. But the chaos of the eating disorder can make life difficult.

Embracing Hope

Whether you're just a concerned parent or a battered veteran dealing with a chronic eating disorder in your child, change is possible. It's important to maintain hope that issues will improve, because hope gives us energy to seek wisdom and stay involved. If you feel hope fading, don't neglect yourself. Find a good therapist for you if need be. Recharge by intentionally caring for yourself. It's a good example to set, and it makes it possible for you to continue to seek good for your daughter or son.

More Reading:

Explore Eating Disorders
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