Anorexia： Seeking Help form the family
New therapies are showing higher rates of success for anorexia sufferers
Twenty years ago， when Cheryl Bergin was a teenager and in the throes of anorexia nervosa， she weighed a mere 54 pounds. Tiny as she was， Bergin nade big demands.
"If it wasn't all natural， she wouldn't eat it，" said [mother] Carol. "She'd watch everything I did. Anorexics become very manipulative with their families. It was like walking on eggshells."
In th world of anorexia nervosa， medical experts will tell you， the Bergin family's experience is common. As a means of coping， exhausted and frustrated parents acquiesce and often back off from discouraging their child's unhealthy behavior. But that only encourages the anorexic behavior， says Dr. Denise E. Wilfley， professor at Washington University.
For years， anorexics were hospitalized and force-fed as a means of treatment. Success rates were low， as the patient would often go home and relapse.
In recent year， studies involving individual and family therapy have shown a higher rate of success.
So it is that researchers at Washington University are looking for local families with a child between ages 12 and 18 suffering from anorexia nervosa to take part in a 16-week-long study on family therapy. Sessions will include family discussions about the adolescent's life and developmental issues and concerns， as well as any positive parenting strategies， such as improving communication.
Just as parents of anorexics often back away from issues surrounding food， they also tend to avoid discussing other important life issues for fear of pushing them sway， Wilfley says.
"It's teaching the parents to talk in a positive manner that's supportive. Again， it helps the parent become part of the solution in that regard，" Wilfley says.
Word
In the throes of （idiom） experiencing or dong something which is difficult， unpleasant or painful
Anorexia nervosa （a serious illness often resulting in dangerous wight5 loss， in which a person does not eat or eats too little because she fears becoming fat.
Manipulative （adj） describing someone who tries to control people to their advantage.
Walking on eggshells （idiom） to be very careful in dealing with someone in order not to upset them
Acquiesce （v） to accept or agree to something， often unwillingly.
Relapse （v） to become ill or start behaving wrongly again， after making an improvement
Back away （phr v） to show that you will not promote a plan or idea any longer.
In that regard （prep phr） in this particular way or in connection with something previously stated.
New therapies are showing higher rates of success for anorexia sufferers
Twenty years ago， when Cheryl Bergin was a teenager and in the throes of anorexia nervosa， she weighed a mere 54 pounds. Tiny as she was， Bergin nade big demands.
"If it wasn't all natural， she wouldn't eat it，" said [mother] Carol. "She'd watch everything I did. Anorexics become very manipulative with their families. It was like walking on eggshells."
In th world of anorexia nervosa， medical experts will tell you， the Bergin family's experience is common. As a means of coping， exhausted and frustrated parents acquiesce and often back off from discouraging their child's unhealthy behavior. But that only encourages the anorexic behavior， says Dr. Denise E. Wilfley， professor at Washington University.
For years， anorexics were hospitalized and force-fed as a means of treatment. Success rates were low， as the patient would often go home and relapse.
In recent year， studies involving individual and family therapy have shown a higher rate of success.
So it is that researchers at Washington University are looking for local families with a child between ages 12 and 18 suffering from anorexia nervosa to take part in a 16-week-long study on family therapy. Sessions will include family discussions about the adolescent's life and developmental issues and concerns， as well as any positive parenting strategies， such as improving communication.
Just as parents of anorexics often back away from issues surrounding food， they also tend to avoid discussing other important life issues for fear of pushing them sway， Wilfley says.
"It's teaching the parents to talk in a positive manner that's supportive. Again， it helps the parent become part of the solution in that regard，" Wilfley says.
Word
In the throes of （idiom） experiencing or dong something which is difficult， unpleasant or painful
Anorexia nervosa （a serious illness often resulting in dangerous wight5 loss， in which a person does not eat or eats too little because she fears becoming fat.
Manipulative （adj） describing someone who tries to control people to their advantage.
Walking on eggshells （idiom） to be very careful in dealing with someone in order not to upset them
Acquiesce （v） to accept or agree to something， often unwillingly.
Relapse （v） to become ill or start behaving wrongly again， after making an improvement
Back away （phr v） to show that you will not promote a plan or idea any longer.
In that regard （prep phr） in this particular way or in connection with something previously stated.