It’s often a big step for a person with anorexia to recognize she/he has an eating disorder and needs professional help.
Before treatment starts, the physician has to rule out other possible causes for the weight loss. During physical exam, blood pressure and heart rate are checked, as well as electrolyte levels, liver and kidney function, bone density and possible heart irregularities. The patient also has to answer questions about eating habits and his/her feelings during psychological exam.
In almost all cases, therapy involves a combination of psychological therapy and individual advice on eating and nutrition to help the patient gain weight in a safe way. Usually, general practitioners, psychiatrists, dietitians and specialist nurses take care of the person with anorexia.
Individual, family and group therapies are normally an integral part of treatment in order to cope with strong emotions, build healthy self-esteem, resolve problems within the family, create support for the patient as well as interact with other patients with the same disorder. However, there is no medication that can treat anorexia – only anxiety and depression.
Most patients are allowed to go home between appointments, but severe cases are treated in hospital or special eating disorder clinics. They might be put on a feeding tube and intravenous fluids if their weight is too low or if they are dehydrated. If they continue to refuse to eat, they might have to stay in a hospital for intensive treatment.
Treatment goals:
- Reducing risk of harm caused by anorexia
- Encouraging weight gain
- Encouraging healthy diet
- Reducing other related complications and problems
- Helping the patient become both physically and mentally stronger
It may take years of therapy until a patient fully recovers. However, relapses are not unusual, e.g. a woman may relapse if she tries to lose weight after pregnancy. A few patients need lifelong treatment to overcome anorexia.
Preventive measures
It’s not possible to prevent anorexia completely. A doctor might identify early signs of the condition during routine checkup and prevent the development of full-blown illness. If a family member or friend notices worrying dieting habits, low self-esteem and dissatisfaction with appearance in a person, he/she should talk to the affected person, e.g. about healthier behavior or therapy options.
