When struggling to find the answer to our child’s difficult relationship with food, our intention to restore what was lost feels daunting. Most therapists are not trained in graduate school to understand this problem, and very few professionals know how to help without triggering the situation into further regression. The best treatment hinges critically on the idea that offering continued stability through meal support is key. Parental involvement emerges as a transformative element in the recovery process. More than just a method of ensuring nutritional intake, support during mealtime is a powerful synthesis of emotional resonance, psychological healing, relational reattachment and restoration of health.
If weight regain is the first step in an adolescent’s recovery, the process ensures adequate nutrition and restoration of health. It also plays a pivotal role in reestablishing stable eating patterns, reducing stress associated with food and restoring the vitality of a malnourished and overexerted brain (and body). As the key witnesses to change, parents directly intervening in the eating behaviors of their child with the guidance of a specialized therapist who can assist with expectations and avoidance of repeated patterns is pivotal. The goal is to revive the child’s sense of play, energy, inquisitiveness, youth and learning—these return with the proper delivery of food intake.
The success rates of such interventions, particularly for anorexia nervosa, are among the highest of eating disorder treatments, with some studies reporting remission rates as high as 40-60%. Largely attributed to the early initiation of treatment with the correct treatment team, the gains made during family-based treatment (FBT) are often maintained years after treatment, demonstrating its long-term efficacy and vital role in long-term stability.
Support also provides benefits that extend beyond nutritional guidance; it addresses co-occurring issues like anxiety, depression and generational trauma. It builds an environment where an adolescent can feel safe and supported while they re-adhere to developmental milestones that were subjugated by a poor relationship with food. Of note are long-term recovery skills that both child and parents learn that are critical for preventing relapses, establishing a sense of trust, and forging meaningful relationships.
Nurturing our children captures the essence of what it means to be a parent. Capitalizing on shared moments, I am partial to this unique intervention because it rekindles opportunities for healing for all involved and offers understanding for everyone gathered around the table.
Brian Pollack, LCSW, CEDS-S, is an adjunct professor at Yeshiva University, certified eating disorder specialist and owner of Hilltop Behavioral Health. His work encompasses advocacy, national keynote presentations and continued education surrounding the treatment and prevention of eating disorders.
