TL; DR Transitioning to college can be especially challenging for young adults with eating disorders. The stress of new environments, social pressures, and lifestyle changes can exacerbate their struggles. To assess readiness, it’s crucial to evaluate their recovery over the past six months, ensuring they’ve maintained a healthy weight, avoided eating disorder behaviors, and can …
TL;DR Online Family-Based Treatment (FBT) is a highly effective therapy for teens with eating disorders, emphasizing parental involvement in treatment. Delivered via telehealth, it allows families to participate from home, making it accessible for busy schedules. Research shows that online FBT can lead to significant improvements in weight, eating disorder symptoms, and overall mental health, …
TL; DR In her insightful piece, Dr. Lauren Muhlheim uses a zip-lining experience as a metaphor to illustrate how parents can support their children with eating disorders during family-based treatment (FBT). She highlights key strategies that can ease the anxiety surrounding mealtimes, akin to facing the fear of jumping from a plane. Physical Placement: Parents …
TL; DR Family-Based Treatment (FBT) is the leading outpatient therapy for adolescent eating disorders, particularly anorexia. A key component is the family meal, where parents actively encourage their teens to eat, often under the observation of a therapist. Research with 21 families revealed that direct prompts (like urging teens to eat specific foods) were more …
TL; DR Including parents in the treatment of children and adolescents with eating disorders is essential for effective recovery. Here are five compelling reasons: 1. Debunked Myths. Historical views blaming parents for eating disorders have been disproven, shifting the focus to inclusive care. 2. Best Practices. Current clinical guidelines advocate for family involvement, emphasizing that …
TL;DR Family-Based Treatment (FBT) is not just for teens; it can be effective for adults, too. Originally designed for adolescents with anorexia and bulimia, FBT involves parental support in meal planning and supervision, which is crucial for recovery. Recent evidence suggests its application extends to young adults and older individuals, with many successfully using it …
TL;DR Parenting a teen with an eating disorder during Family-Based Treatment (FBT) is challenging. Parents need to balance normal parenting with the unique demands of recovery, which often involves refeeding at home. It’s important to distinguish between behaviors stemming from the eating disorder (like defiance during meals) and typical teenage rebellion. During high-stress moments related …
TL;DR Excessive exercise is a common symptom in teens with eating disorders, potentially worsening their condition. During Family-Based Treatment (FBT), the approach to exercise is phased: Phase 1: Focus is on weight gain and stopping eating disorder behaviors. Exercise is typically halted for safety, as malnourished teens are at risk for serious health issues. Parents …
TL;DR Family-Based Treatment (FBT) is a specialized, evidence-based therapy for children and teens with eating disorders, developed in the 1970s and 1980s. It’s important for parents to differentiate true FBT from general family therapy or other approaches, as not all treatments that claim to be FBT are fully compliant with its structured methodology. Key indicators …
TL;DR Early intervention is crucial in addressing eating disorders, which can lead to severe health issues if not treated promptly. Family-Based Treatment (FBT) is a leading, evidence-based approach tailored for teens, emphasizing parental involvement to support recovery. Despite its potential benefits, parents often hesitate to intervene due to uncertainty about the early signs of these …