NEDA Navigator Guidebook
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11. Q: My adult child has had many treatments for eating disorders. She is menstruating and
functioning well in the world but is thinner than she should be. I am worried. What should I
say? The parent should feel free to talk about this but without hostility. The goal of the
relationship with adult children is to allow the adult child to take responsibility for their
health. For more help, click here: What Should I say? or paste this link to your web browser:
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/nedaDir/files/documents/handouts/WhatISay.pdf Medical
1. Q: Are there any medications that work for anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder or
EDNOS? For Anorexia: none that have demonstrated effectiveness in helping to restore weight. There
is emerging evidence that some antipsychotics (e.g., Zyprexa) and some SSRI’s (e.g., Prozac)
can help in a patient’s progress with therapy after weight restoration.
For Bulimia and BED: good evidence that antidepressants (e.g., Prozac) work. Higher doses
are often needed than for depression. Some patients receive inadequate doses because they
may be seeing someone who does not specialize in ED’s. Some evidence that mood
elevators (e.g., Iamictal, Tegretol), and some anti- seizure meds (e.g., Ativan) help.
For EDNOS: These individuals do not meet the criteria used by the Psychiatric Practice
Guidelines, whose diagnostic thresholds can be arbitrary (most binge eating disorder is
classified as EDNOS). Everyone who doesn’t quite meet the description for anorexia is
classified in this category – for example, a patient who is still menstruating but is only at
75% of ideal weight. EDNOS, however, are just as significant as anorexia.
2. Q: Can a person have anorexia, bulimia and/or binge eating at the same time?
Yes. It’s not uncommon to move from one type of eating disorder to another in the course of
the illness.
3. Q: My daughter’s doctor doesn’t know about eating disorders. I’m not even sure my child
has an eating disorder. Should I take her to another doctor? If so, who?
The cost of under treating or ignoring this issue is much too high. The NEDA website has a
listing of providers by region. Look for a Pediatrician with Adolescent Medical training. Click
here: Get Help Today or paste this link into your web browser:
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/get-help-today/ 4. Q: My daughter gets good grades and is captain of the track team. She’s just thin and she
doesn’t look sick to me. How do I know if this could be something else, like an eating
disorder? Ask this contact what makes them have this concern. Direct them to a therapist to do an
evaluation if you think there’s an issue worth following up.
5. Q: My adult family member refuses to admit there is a problem. What can I do? Is there a
way to have them deemed mentally incompetent or in some way forced into treatment?
Frequently Asked Questions ▪ Page 4
©2012 National Eating Disorders Association. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction or other use of this outline without the express written consent of the National Eating Disorders
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