If Your Adolescent Has an Eating Disorder: An Essential Resource for Parents (Adolescent Mental Health Initiative) - Softcover

"It is heartbreaking to have a child with an eating disorder. But it's worse if you don't feel you have support, good information or a roadmap to recovery. If Your Adolescent Has an Eating Disorder is an excellent way to get grounded. It contains some of the best information you will find on the subject. This volume on eating disorders is direct, frank and evenhanded."--Mary Beth Regan, The Baltimore Sun "If Your Adolescent Has an Eating Disorder is a powerful tool and 'must read' for parents trying to make some sense of the confusion surrounding these difficult illnesses. The case stories that are woven through the book wonderfully illuminate the realities of eating disorders while effectively embracing the reader with support and the reality that their family is not alone." --Lynn S. Grefe, C.E.O., National Eating Disorders Association "This user-friendly, sensitive book is a masterful resource for parents and is written by the best there is-Dr. Walsh is a world leader in treating eating disorders."--Kelly D. Brownell, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology, and Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University; and Director, Yale Center for Eating and Weight Disorders "This work will be very helpful for the families of adolescents with eating disorders. It is clearly and well written, informed by the latest research, and concise yet comprehensive. This is an important, highly valuable addition to the literature. I will recommend this to the families of all my adolescent patients."--James E. Mitchell, M.D., The NRI/Lee A. Christoferson Professor and Chair of Clinical Neuroscience, and Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences; and President, Neuropsychiatric Research Institute "Walsh and Cameron provide an intelligent companion for parents who want real information on the causes and complexities of eating disorders. Using real examples from parentsthey translate the science into understandable explanations of all aspects of eating disorders Most importantly, they provide a roadmap for parents who are navigating the disorienting waters of finding appropriate treatment for their children--with clear information about what to expect as the illness unfolds and how best to advocate for and support a child in need."--Cynthia M. Bulik, Ph.D., William and Jeanne Jordan Distinguished Professor of Eating Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Professor of Nutrition, School of Public Heath; and Director, UNC Eating Disorders Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

This is an authoritative guide to understanding and helping a teenager with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. It is designed for parents of teens who have recently been diagnosed with an eating disorder, or who are at risk of developing one, and for other adults, such as teachers and guidance counselors, who are regularly in contact with at-risk adolescents. The book combines the latest scientific expertise available―including the newest treatments and most up-to-date research findings on eating disorders―with the practical wisdom of parents who have raised teenagers with anorexia or bulimia.

In clear and accessible language, Dr. B. Timothy Walsh and V. L. Cameron explain exactly what eating disorders are and describe their characteristics, as well as signs and symptoms. They outline the right way to go about getting a diagnosis if you suspect your child may have an eating disorder, about when and where to get treatment, and about how to navigate the healthcare system. There is also advice on how to handle everyday life―both at home and at school―once your child is diagnosed, and on how to communicate with your teen. Complete with red flags to look out for and warnings on the dangers of doing nothing, this book will help parents and other adults face and deal effectively with adolescent eating disorders before they become life-threatening.