DISORDERED EATING: 7 tips for concerned parents

■ Early intervention is key to full recovery. If you are concerned that your child is developing an eating disorder it is important to address it. Think through and be clear for yourself and your child why you are concerned, inform yourself, talk to them and make a plan together.

■ The most helpful concept to guide how you approach the issue i s that an eating disorder is a (destructive) coping mechanism. This means that the person controls their food / eating / weight as a way of helping them feel they can cope with their day-to-day life. Therefore resistance to change is normal and to be expected.

■ Think through how to approach the conversation. Don’t just focus on food (what the person is doing), focus on how they are feeling. Their disordered eating behaviours are a symptom of their distress. If you focus on how they are feeling and ask them openly if you can help, they are more likely to open up and not feel like they need to defend their eating disorder.

■ Read all you can on what an eating disorder is, how to approach someone, how to encourage someone to get help, on bodywhys.ie. There are very clear pathways to treatment; read the treatment guide and download the HSE Eating disorders App (see bodywhys. ie for both). The GP is usually a good first step.

■ Sign up for the Bodywhys family support programme. This free fourweek programme will equip you to support them and to look after yourself, throughout their recovery from an eating disorder.

■ Remember – full recovery is possible! We must hold that hope.