1. The eating disorder is not your fault.
We want all parents to know that you are not to blame for your child’s eating disorder. Eating disorders stem from the interaction between your child’s genes and their environmental influences and personal experiences. Their unique personality characteristics play a role. These genetic and environmental factors are largely uncontrollable — there is no one cause of eating disorders — and it’s certainly not your fault. That is not to say that some environmental influences are not related to interactions with parents and siblings — or that parenting styles do not matter. They do. Families play an important role in eating disorder recovery.
Read: Are Eating Disorders Genetic?
2. The eating disorder is not your child’s fault, either.
Your child came into this world with a number of unique traits and tendencies. Traits commonly associated with eating disorders include:
- Perfectionism
- High sensitivity
- Stress reactivity
- Low distress tolerance
These unique personality traits, combined with genetic and environmental influences, combine and contribute to the development of eating disorders. But, just as parents do not cause eating disorders, affected people do not choose to have eating disorders.
3. Eating disorders run in families.
As mentioned above, genetics play a key role as risk factors for the development of eating disorders. When a child has a close family member diagnosed with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, they are significantly more likely to also be diagnosed with an eating disorder as compared to the general population. That is not to say that if you or a parent struggled with an eating disorder at some point that your child will automatically develop an eating disorder. What they inherit are those personality characteristics and the propensity for mood challenges like anxiety or depression.
4. Environment also plays a role.
One’s environment also influences the chances of developing an eating disorder — approximately 20 to 50 percent of the “cause effect” in studies of inheritance. But it’s not how one has been brought up — or how a child has been parented — that makes the difference; what matters more is how each individual child internalizes their experiences. Life experiences matter but what matters more is how each individual uniquely processes things or how, at different times in their development, different experiences may affect them positively or negatively. Parents and other meaningful adults in a child’s life can help them negotiate those experiences more positively.
5. Society plays a role, too.
Society and the media continue to promote and encourage “thin” body types. Diet ads run rampant and weight loss is a common topic for many. Social media incites a “compare and compete” culture in our youth and, sadly, many young people lack the developmental and coping skills necessary to process the images they see in a realistic way. Perfectionistic and high-achieving individuals are particularly at risk for succumbing to cultural and media messages proclaiming that “thin is best.” New medications that promote weight loss can be viewed as an easy way to achieve the “ideal” body weight, size or shape and this poses another layer of risk for some young people. Cyber bullying, especially about weight or appearance can also negatively affect self-image of a vulnerable young person.
Read: Social Media and Eating Disorders: Is There a Link?
6. Disordered eating habits change the brain.
The altered nutritional status (starvation and nutritional chaos) that occurs with eating disorders triggers a neurobiological response or “brain change,” which can have lasting impacts for some. Brain changes from eating disorders include:
- Cognitive changes (thinking differently)
- Psychological changes (processing information differently)
- Emotional changes (feeling differently)
Starvation also leads to shrinking of areas of the brain. Bingeing and purging behaviors are also known to add layers of “brain change.”
7. Other behaviors can also change the brain.
Gateway behaviors (like over-exercising) must also be viewed with caution for those who are susceptible, because these behaviors can contribute to changes in an individual’s brain structure and function. Individuals who exercise (or move like frequently pacing back and forth) compulsively or excessively can add to the nutritional deficiency and thus to how the brain is affected. Any recommendations for diet and exercise must be considered in context with each individual’s genetic risk, individual vulnerability and environmental factors. Participation in “judged sports,” for example, can be risky for the most vulnerable — as opposed to team sports or activities in which there is less focus on size and shape.
Read: Eating Disorders in Athletes.
8. The brain can recover.
Thankfully, the brain can recover and we can bring the brain back from a compromised state. But, the longer an eating disorder continues, the more serious the resulting brain change will be. This is why it is so important to seek treatment at an eating disorder clinic early on. Early recognition and timely (and effective) intervention are the best tools for a successful outcome. There is always hope for recovery — no matter how long an eating disorder has been in place -- but delays in diagnosis and treatment can lead to a more difficult recovery journey.
9. Full weight restoration is key to recovery.
Weight restoration helps us achieve many goals in treatment, including:
- Bringing the brain back from its compromised state
- Switching off starvation signaling
- Promoting tissue repair and repairing organ system function
Once the above takes place, one’s hormones, body composition, growth, development and stress response will normalize. Complete weight recovery (as close to 100 percent of ideal body weight as possible) by end of treatment is the best predictor of recovery for teens with anorexia (Lock, et al., 2013) and is what we strive for in all patients. Maintaining a normal weight once achieved is also critical for long term recovery. Thankfully, there is more hope in the world of eating disorder treatment today than ever before, supporting the full recovery of your children.
Read: Weight Restoration and "Brain Rescue" in Kids and Teens
10. Help is available.
Wondering how to help someone with an eating disorder? There are so many resources and treatment options available today to help your child get the treatment they need. In our eating disorder treatment programs, we individualize care through trait management — addressing each person’s unique temperamental traits to meet their unique needs -- as well as addressing all physiological and psychological issues. A comprehensive multi-disciplinary team approach is the best care approach for any eating disorder.
If your loved one is struggling with disordered eating, you can reach out to our compassionate admissions team at any time. Please fill out this form or give us a call at (866) 622-5914. Recovery is within reach.
