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Eating disorder - anorexia
The biggest challenge in treating anorexia nervosa is making the person recognize that they have an illness. Most persons with anorexia nervosa deny that they have an eating disorder. People often enter treatment only once their condition is serious.
The goals of treatment are to restore normal body weight and eating habits. A weight gain of 1 - 3 pounds per week is considered a safe goal.
A number of different programs have been designed to treat anorexia. Sometimes the person can gain weight by:
Many patients start with a short hospital stay and continue to follow-up with a day treatment program.
A longer hospital stay may be needed if:
Care providers who are usually involved in these programs include:
Treatment is often very difficult, and patients and their families must work hard. Many therapies may be tried until the patient overcomes this disorder.
Patients may drop out of programs if they have unrealistic hopes of being "cured" with therapy alone.
Different kinds of talk therapy are used to treat people with anorexia:
Medications such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers may help some anorexic patients when given as part of a complete treatment program. Examples include:
These medicines can help treat depression or anxiety.
Although these drugs may help, no medication has been proven to decrease the desire to lose weight.
Anorexia nervosa is a serious condition that can be deadly. By some estimates, it leads to death in 10% of cases. Experienced treatment programs can help people with the condition return to a normal weight, but it is common for the disease to return.
Women who develop this eating disorder at an early age have a better chance of recovering completely. However, most people with anorexia will continue to prefer a lower body weight and be very focused on food and calories.
Weight management may be hard. Long-term treatment may be needed to stay at a healthy weight.
Complications can be severe. A hospital stay may be needed.
Complications may include:
Talk to your doctor if a loved one is:
Getting medical help right away can make an eating disorder less severe.
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le Grange D, Lock J, Loeb K, Nicholls D. Academy for eating disorders position paper: The role of the family in eating disorders. Int J Eat Disord. 2009;43:1-5.
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