Guiding and Assisting with Problematic Adolescent Eating Patterns
In recent years, mental health issues, including eating disorders, have been on the rise among young people worldwide, particularly in industrialized nations like Germany. This trend has been exacerbated by the pandemic, with limited counseling and treatment options potentially delaying early intervention.
Eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, have seen a significant increase in hospital admissions among young patients in Germany, with numbers doubling compared to 20 years ago. It's crucial to approach this sensitive topic without accusations or scolding, instead expressing concern and offering help in an emotional, empathetic manner.
Effective strategies for family and friends include active involvement in recovery, compassionate communication, emotional warmth, practical help with meals, and educating themselves about the disorder and treatment options.
One such approach is Family-Based Treatment (FBT), which has proven highly effective, especially for children and adolescents. This method involves family members taking an active role in supervising nutrition and weight restoration at home during early phases, then gradually supporting skill development, independence, and relapse prevention.
Compassionate communication is key to avoiding guilt, shame, or defensiveness. Using "I" statements, such as "I feel concerned about changes in your eating," helps keep conversations open and supportive. This approach allows the individual to feel heard and understood, including their body image struggles.
Providing emotional warmth and closeness helps combat feelings of isolation common in eating disorders. Families should strive to listen without hostility and reinforce the person's strengths and positive attributes beyond eating behaviors. Warm, positive relationships support recovery by addressing interpersonal factors that maintain disorders like anorexia nervosa.
Practical support with meals includes helping prepare and pack food, especially for young people who may find the logistics of eating overwhelming. Teaching and encouraging coping strategies for challenging eating situations, like school cafeterias, can foster a safer environment for eating.
Acknowledging and validating feelings about treatment resistance is important. People with eating disorders may be scared or ambivalent about treatment. Open, honest conversations that acknowledge these fears, educate about treatment benefits, and patiently encourage engagement improve the likelihood of starting and continuing recovery.
It's essential to remember that friends might not be the primary point of contact for the affected individual. Information for those affected, relatives, and friends is available from the Federal Institute for Public Health (BzGA). The BzGA hotline can be reached at 0221 892031 for advice on suitable local and regional points of contact.
Friends could also offer to go to a school social worker together to discuss the issue. Spatial and social isolation within the nuclear family has resulted in more stress and conflicts, especially for already stressed groups. In such cases, seeking professional help can provide a much-needed supportive context for initial support.
Despite the challenges, it's important to remember that eating disorders, even severe cases, are treatable and curable. Five years after the end of therapy, 41 percent of patients could be classified as recovered. The Covid pandemic and accompanying measures such as lockdown have led to a further increase in mental illnesses among young people, but with the right support, recovery is possible.
Lastly, family and friends should not feel solely responsible for helping someone with an eating disorder. It's a collective effort that requires understanding, patience, and support from various sources.
Science plays a significant role in understanding eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, as they have seen a significant increase in recent years, particularly in industrialized nations like Germany. Health-and-wellness, including mental health, are interconnected, and supporting mental health is essential for overall well-being, especially in managing eating disorders.
