Essay on Helping Adolescents Recover from Anorexia Nervosa

This essay examines the critical issue of helping adolescents recover from anorexia nervosa, a potentially life-threatening eating disorder. It explores the importance of early intervention and highlights the role of educators and parents in identifying and supporting affected individuals. The essay reviews various intervention methods, including psychoeducation, self-esteem-centered approaches, and family therapy, emphasizing the effectiveness of psychological interventions over pharmacological ones. It also delves into the significance of combating stigma and creating awareness surrounding anorexia nervosa. Furthermore, the essay discusses the potential adverse effects of certain psychoeducational strategies and the importance of follow-up care to maximize the effectiveness of prevention programs. The findings suggest that providing reliable information about eating disorders and employing psychological intervention techniques are essential for successful recovery, making this a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand and address anorexia nervosa in adolescents.

Running head: HELPING ADOLESCENTS RECOVER FROM ANOREXIA NERVOSA 1
Helping Adolescents Recover from Anorexia Nervosa
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HELPING ADOLESCENTS RECOVER FROM ANOREXIA NERVOSA 2
Introduction
Research Question: Helping Adolescents Recover from Anorexia Nervosa
This paper will aim at examining how educators and parents can help adolescents recover from
anorexia nervosa, which is one of the eating disorders, which is mostly experienced during
adolescence.
Importance and Relevance of Helping Adolescents Recover from Anorexia Nervosa
Disorders characterized by severe concern about body shape and weight as well as bad
eating behaviors are referred to as eating disorders. Some of the eating conditions include
bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa and binge-eating condition (Weiner, 2016). Most body
changes are experienced during adolescence and some tend to be difficult for some adolescents.
Occasionally, teenagers who are dissatisfied with their bodies turn to disordered eating habits.
The chief cause of most of these eating disorders involves too much concentration on body shape
and weight. Studies indicate that there are several risk factors linked to eating diseases (Vögele,
2010). The existence of these eating disease-associated factors does not essentially foresee that a
person will acquire an eating illness. On the other hand, if any risk factors associated with eating
disorders portray themselves, the more likely it is that a person will get an eating disease. Some
of these risk factors include family factors (genetics), age, gender, weight concerns, and dieting,
as well as historical trauma like sexual abuse. These deeds significantly have an influence on the
body’s capability to acquire proper nutrition. Anorexia nervosa is a mental and potentially fatal
eating disease characterized by weight loss due to limited energy intake. Persons with anorexia
normally restrict the number of calories they consume. Individuals with anorexia also display

HELPING ADOLESCENTS RECOVER FROM ANOREXIA NERVOSA 3
physical complications, which might lead them to commit suicide. Studies indicate that out of the
death cases reported 18% of them are as a result of Anorexia Nervosa (Attia, 2010). These
mortality rates alone reveal the urgent need for preventive interventions to help curb these
disorders in teenagers. Reviewed research shows that persons with eating illnesses are not
referred for medical care and do not seek medical attention (Attia, 2010). With the knowledge of
the harmful psychological and physiological effects and severe wellbeing concerns that are
regularly accompanied by eating illnesses, prevention measures need to be employed.
Studies conducted on eating-illness prevention interventions reveal that; the number of
separate sessions used during implementation of an intervention differs greatly with some of the
sessions that are conducted continuously (Guarda, 2008). The extent to which intervention
implementation is done has a significant impact on the eating illness-related behaviors in
question. Interventions employed over several numbers of sessions and those comprising
continuous programs, tend to be more effective compared to one-time prevention programs.
Despite teen-age being the most prone age to develop eating diseases, other ages can acquire it as
well. With therapeutic care such as therapy (psychotherapy, like individual, family or even
educators), can be of great significance to persons diagnosed with eating disorders like Anorexia
Nervosa, to enable them to go back to more healthier eating etiquettes (Mehler, 2010). Therapy
is crucial in the treatment of Anorexia Nervosa as it allows a person in healing process speaks
and recuperates from any distressing life incidents and acquires beneficial approaches and
management skills for communicating, expressing emotions, as well as sustaining healthy
relations. Therefore, therapy is vital during treatment of an individual with Anorexia Nervosa to
aid in the recovery from distressing life incidents and learning of effective managing skills for
sustaining healthy relations and expressing feelings.

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Literature Review/intervention focus
Combating the stigma associated with Anorexia Nervosa and creating awareness is
crucial when approaching treatment and recovery of eating diseases, but having reliable
resources to assist individuals diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa in the early periods is the most
vital. Anorexia Nervosa outcome is anticipated by age, illness, (BMI) body mass index, and
disease duration. The recovery process from Anorexia Nervosa is shorter if the disease has not
become persistent. An individual’s best opportunity to lasting recovery and wellbeing, both
mentally and physically, is dependent upon early intervention as supported by Maudsley’ report
on family therapy; a psychological intervention (Ulrike,2014).
There is a great variability concerning the intervention methods used in helping teenagers
recover from Anorexia Nervosa. Though psychoeducation intervention method appears to be the
most effective, several studies recommend traditional psychoeducational methods to eating
disease prevention by employing more interactive practices amongst teenagers like experimental
games as they tend to encourage supportive learning. Incorporating skill-based methods like
those used in the behavioral management of eating illnesses (self-monitoring of eating habits
related to weight, stress, and shape) is another way of promoting psychoeducational intervention
strategies that could be of great significance in Anorexia Nervosa recovery in teenagers (Mehler,
2010). Concerns on potential adverse effects of psychoeducational strategy to eating illness
prevention have been raised. A certain technique, “Information-giving technique” shows a
potential to cause adverse effects like the regularization and glamorization of eating conditions
and thus introduce youngsters to unsafe practices by giving information about risky weight
control methods like starvation and laxative abuse. Offering information about eating conditions

HELPING ADOLESCENTS RECOVER FROM ANOREXIA NERVOSA 5
may involuntarily promote eating complications by decreasing stigma associated with these
eating disorders. As a result, most researchers have decided to eliminate psychoeducational
information on eating illness from their interventions. Self-esteem centered methods to eating
illnesses have shown to be an alternative strategy that aims to develop body image instead of
aiming at irrational eating habits by promoting self-esteem (Guarda, 2008).
During Maudsleys’ study, patients who had received initial in-patient care resulting in a
return to average weight were randomized to either individual or family therapy. Randomization
was done in two groups: an initial-onset short account Anorexia Nervosa and an initial-onset
broad-account Anorexia Nervosa set. Outcome after one year indicated that patients who were
given family therapy had a higher significant gain in weight than patients given family therapy
(Lock et.al., 2010). After a five-year follow-up, results suggested that family therapy had more
effects than individual therapy, but if the disease had an early onset but a prolonged duration,
family therapy had less effective. Thus, indicating that a family therapy applied early during
disease development, can result in effective treatment for at least five years (Ulrike, et.al 2014).
The first therapeutic trial of family therapy was conducted in 1987 by studying patients who had
undertaken a period of weight re-establishment in a professional eating illness inpatient unit
preceding an outpatient care treatment (Ulrike, et.al 2014) . Studies indicated that in 21 teenagers
with a small duration of sickness, family therapy was more effective compared to individual
therapy in maintaining weight. Therefore, this indicates that early family therapy can be of great
significance when employed by educators or parents when they notice any eating disorders in
teenagers.

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Another intervention involved in the therapeutic care of Anorexia Nervosa is
pharmacological interventions, which include the use of antidepressant drugs as indicated in
several studies (McIntosh, et.al 2005). Several medicines that act upon neurotransmitters
involved in the control of satiety and appetite have been studied in Anorexia Nervosa treatment.
Antidepressants have been used in the management of signs and symptoms of depression in
Anorexia Nervosa and their effects on body mass gain have been studied. Studies show that
antipsychotic medicines are regularly used to help reduce high levels of anxiety existent in
Anorexia Nervosa, but are not commended for weight gain (Weiner, 2016).
Research findings also indicate that drugs are not tolerated in the treatment of Anorexia
Nervosa patients and that their effects are short-lived as compared to those associated with
psychological interventions. Compromised dietetic status may also affect drug action
mechanism, a rare consideration in clinical studies. For instance, reports indicate that
antidepressants are less efficient with decreased estrogen or alteration in tryptophan levels. There
is no evidence showing effects of medications in teenagers therefore, it remains to be verified if
there are any drug specifications to help in the pharmacological treatment of Anorexia Nervosa
in adolescents. As a result, it would be advisable to recommend psychological interventions to
educators and parents of youngsters diagnosed with eating illnesses, as they tend to be more
effective than pharmacological interventions during Anorexia Nervosa recovery process (Ekern,
2012).
The research done on pharmacological intervention involved 11 trials in which 4 trials
involved contrast of SSRI antidepressant and wait-list control, SSRI antidepressant and placebo,
tricyclic antidepressant with placebo, 2 trials on antihistamine and placebo, 2 trials on

HELPING ADOLESCENTS RECOVER FROM ANOREXIA NERVOSA 7
antipsychotic and placebo, 1 trial on antipsychotic with another and 1 trial on antipsychotic with
antidepressant (McIntosh, et.al 2005).
Findings of the research indicate that it is not likely for there to be a significant
dissimilarity between antidepressants and placebo on the mass gain by end of treatment. There is
less evidence to conclude if there is a difference between antidepressants and antipsychotics or
antipsychotics and placebo with respect to mass gain. Additionally, there is insufficient proof
that there is any significant dissimilarity amongst SSRI (fluoxetine) and placebo on weight gain
with patients showing deterioration in their weight after one year of treatment (Walsh.et al 2006).
There is also less proof to determine if antipsychotics are relatively suitable for persons with
Anorexia Nervosa when likened to wait-list control or placebo. In addition, there is less evidence
to conclude if antidepressants have a great risk potential of side effects in individuals with
Anorexia Nervosa when likened to placebo.
Conclusion
Eating disease prevention programs have positive effects in promoting awareness and
reducing bad eating habits and attitudes. There should be continued support on development and
implementation of programs providing influential information about the treatment and recovery
of eating disorders like Anorexia Nervosa in youngsters since they are the major group facing the
potential risks of the disorder (Mehler & Andersen, 2017). Findings further indicate that
providing materials with reliable information about eating illnesses like Anorexia Nervosa
should be considered for faster recovery process and that psychological intervention techniques
are similarly effective. For psychological interventions, follow-ups are essential to help draw
well-founded conclusions regarding the significance of intervention period when implementing

HELPING ADOLESCENTS RECOVER FROM ANOREXIA NERVOSA 8
eating illness prevention programs to facilitate maximum effectiveness during the recovery
process of eating diseases like Anorexia Nervosa in teenagers (Guarda, 2008).

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References
Attia, E. (2010). Anorexia nervosa: current status and future directions. Annual review of
medicine, 61, 425-435.
Ekern, J. (2012, April 25). Medical Complications from Eating Disorders. Eating Disorder
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Guarda, A. S. (2008). Treatment of anorexia nervosa: insights and obstacles. Physiology &
Behavior, 94(1), 113-120.
Lock, J., Le Grange, D., Agras, W. S., Moye, A., Bryson, S. W., & Jo, B. (2010). Randomized
clinical trial comparing family-based treatment with adolescent-focused individual
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McIntosh, V. V., Jordan, J., Carter, F. A., Luty, S. E., McKenzie, J. M., Bulik, C. M., ... & Joyce,
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Mehler, P. S., & Andersen, A. E. (2017). Eating Disorders: A Guide to Medical Care and
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Ulrike Schmidt, M. D., & Janet Treasure, M. D. (2014). The Maudsley Model of Anorexia
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Weiner, K. L. (2016, November 17). Medical Complications of Eating Disorders. Huffpost:
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