Anorexia Treatment for Teens

Anorexia is an eating disorder that causes its victims, sometimes teens, to feel fat, even though they might be very thin. Anorexia leads to complications such as dehydration, malnutrition and organ failure. Doctors treat anorexia from various angles: physical, mental and emotional. Effective ongoing treatment prevents complications from and recurrences of anorexia in teens.

Physical Treatment

• Teens with anorexia don't eat enough to sustain growth, development and health. Some teens die of anorexia without warning, even those that don't seem very underweight, because the restricted diet creates an imbalance of electrolytes in the body and causes heart problems. Sometimes a teen is so physically ill from anorexia that she needs immediate hospitalization. If you are hospitalized for anorexia, work hard to comply with treatment. Sometimes a doctor will feed a patient with a tube directly to her stomach if necessary.

  While in the hospital, doctors treat the anorexia patient with fluids, monitor her vital signs, and treat the damage to her organs as much as possible. Sometimes the damage to a teen's kidneys, gastrointestinal system or heart is so extensive that it cannot be reversed, even if the teen recovers from anorexia and begins eating normally. Teens with anorexia don't get enough minerals from food, and start to lose bone mass during the time they normally build bone mass the most, putting them at risk for osteoporosis and fractures throughout life.

Mental Treatment

• Unfortunately, no psychiatric medications effectively treat anorexia. However, a doctor may prescribe antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications for an anorexia patient who might feel depressed or anxious. Sometimes an anorexia patient denies that he even needs treatment and resists therapy or suffers recurrences. Urge your teen to get help and seek and participate in therapy as a family when you see signs and symptoms of anorexia. The Mayo Clinic states, "anorexia has one of the higher death rates among all mental illnesses, around 5 percent."

Emotional Support

• Victims of anorexia commonly feel sad, anxious and guilty. Teens may hide anorexia from parents by covering up in heavy clothing. Sometimes a teen with anorexia keeps her disease secret from everyone. If you have anorexia, start your recovery by talking to someone close. If you notice signs or symptoms of anorexia in a friend or family member, encourage her to get help from a family physician or mental health provider. Give her a safe outlet to talk, and boost her self-esteem and help her regain control by encouraging a treatment plan.