Eating disorders are serious mental health disorders that usually develop during a young person’s teenage years. For children and adolescents at boarding schools, symptoms of eating disorders may be first noticed by teachers or other students. Eating disorders are relatively common at boarding schools, and most schools have specific protocols regarding support, care, and boundaries.
If a young person develops an eating disorder, it’s not the fault of the family. Eating disorders develop as a complex result of social, biological,
Many people prescribed with Ozempic eat less food than before and, as a result, have a lower body weight. In the past two years, it’s become a well-known medication that is promoted across social media platforms, including TikTok. This has led to serious concerns about its potential for misuse among people with eating disorders.
Most people with anorexia nervosa can recover with professional treatment, especially in the earlier stages of the disorder. But some young people require more intensive care than others. In particular, some adolescents and young adults need inpatient or residential treatment to stay safe and have the best chances of recovery.
While medical emergencies are frightening, with urgent medical care, young people can be kept safe and recover. Long-term treatment for eating disorders supports young people to recover physically, psychologically, and socially – and prevents medical emergencies in the future.
The cognitive interpersonal maintenance model is a theory about the development and maintenance of anorexia nervosa. It describes the way that personality traits, ways of thinking, and difficulties forming relationships with others make people vulnerable to developing the disorder.
Families usually constitute young people’s closest relationships and support systems. That’s why family therapy is so important in the treatment of anorexia nervosa. Working with young people and their families, family therapy sessions support families in overcoming unhelpful behaviours that may reinforce eating disorder symptoms, replacing them with positive systems of relationships that nurture lasting change.
Families are not to blame for the development of eating disorders. However, eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that can strain the relationships within any family. It’s common for families affected by eating disorders to face challenges relating to one another and caring for a young person with an eating disorder.
Some people think that anorexia nervosa is just about food, body shape, or weight. But the reality is much more complicated. Anorexia is caused and
Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) are one type of mental health support available for young people. They offer a higher level of care than weekly or daily appointments but don’t involve residential stays in a treatment space. They support young people to reconnect with themselves and achieve transformative change while continuing to stay with their families in the evenings and weekends.
Mental health disorders like anorexia nervosa and borderline personality disorder are common among young people in Kuwait. For parents, seeing a young person face challenges in their mental health can cause stress, anxiety, sadness, and frustration. It’s not easy to know how to act or when to reach out for support.
Identifying and treating anorexia as soon as possible is crucial to effective treatment and recovery. Without timely treatment, children can experience serious and long-term harm to their mental and physical health. This means that it’s really important to look out for the signs of anorexia in pre-teens as well as adolescents and seek professional support if there are any concerns.
Social isolation and loneliness may cause young people to become more inward-focused and preoccupied with their body shape and weight. Meaningful social relationships are important in creating a sense of perspective and self-worth. Relationships help young people understand the many ways they are valuable and emphasise their hobbies and passions. Without these relationships, it’s easier for disordered eating attitudes and behaviours to dominate a young person’s life.
