Teen Eating Disorder Treatment
- Teen Eating Disorder Treatment
- Adolescent Eating Disorder Treatment
Teenagers often suffer silently with their eating disorders. Given that shame and self-image issues often play a role in the development of teen eating disorders, this isolation leads to the problem getting worse and worse over time. Parents who are able to recognize the signs and symptoms of eating disorders in their children must utilize every tool at their disposal to help them get well. First and foremost among these tools are teen eating disorder treatment programs. Adolsecent eating disorder treatment facilities can not only help the teenager regain good physical health, but will also enhance mental well-being - specifically by addressing the environmental issues (peer pressure, problems at home, sexual abuse, physical abuse) that have led to the unwanted behavior.
What are the Most Serious Teen Eating Disorders?
Although there are a variety of serious eating disorders which can affect individuals during their teenage years, the two most common (and most dangerous) are anorexia and bulimia.
- Anorexia - Anorexia is characterized by young people who will literally starve themselves to death in order to achieve an unrealistic body image.
- Bulimia - Bulimia refers to the condition in which an individual will eat a full meal, and then purge the calories by self-induced vomiting, laxatives or other means.
- Binge Eating - individuals who suffer from binge eating are unable to control their food consumption. They will secretly eat large meals - usually accompanied by feelings of shame or depression.
What goes on During Teen Eating Disorder Treatment?
The following represents some of the key steps involved in treating teenage eating disorders. Although programs may vary in terms of treatment styles, these are universal elements found at most teen anorexia treatment and teen bulimia treatment facilities:
- Stabilizing the health of the individual. Many individuals (especially those with anorexia) arrive for treatment in a poor state of physical health. Medical professionals help insure that the patient is treated in such a way that they are strong enough to continue the program.
- Counseling. In order to unearth the root causes of the eating disorder, and develop strategies to enact change, individuals will meet with counselors one-on-one and in a group setting. These sessions provide an opportunity to build self-esteem, talk about personal "triggers" for the behavior and learn how to cope with stress and other personal issues in a healthier, more productive manner.
- Nutritional Counseling. For many teenagers with eating disorders, good eating habits have been neglected as a result of their condition. With that in mind, many facilities offer onsite nutritional counselors and chefs that not only feed the individual properly while they are in the program, but show them how to cook for themselves, plan eating strategies and other elements of responsible aftercare.
Newport Academy offers outstanding eating disorder treatment that is designed specifically to help teenage girls and boys. Newport works not only with the individual, but with the entire family to create an environment of caring, healing and hope for the future.
