NEDA TOOLKIT for Parents
Questions parents may want to ask treatment providers
privately Appropriate support from parents and family is crucial to the treatment process and recovery.
Below are some questions you can ask the treatment provider (at an eating disorder facility or private practice) to
assist you in providing the best support possible for your loved one.
Remember you may need to be proactive to help
ensure the communication process flows smoothly.
And don’t forget to find support for yourself! As a
parent, family member, or friend it’s easy to overlook
the self-care you need as you focus on your loved
one’s recovery. National Eating Disorders Association’s
(NEDA’s) treatment referral resource on the website
lists family support groups, though you can ask the
treatment provider helping your loved one to make a
recommendation. How can I best support my child/family member
during treatment?
What is my role?
How often can I discuss progress with you?
What should be done if my child/family member
does not want to participate in treatment?
Can my child/family member be admitted to a
facility against her/his will? If so, under what
circumstances? How should I prepare for our family member’s
return home?
What books, websites, or other resources do you
recommend? How can I tell if a relapse is occurring? What
should we do?
If my family member receives outpatient
treatment, how will you decide if more intensive
treatment is needed?
If I have concerns about how it’s going, who
should I call?
What limits should be placed on exercise? What
distinguishes compulsive from healthy exercise?
Are there any special first-aid items such as
Gatorade® or Pedialyte® that I should keep on
hand to help with bulimia-related emergencies?
How can I encourage “safe” food choices?
What if my family member shuts me out of talking
about things?
Will my family member be in group treatment
with people of similar age/sex? What kind of food-
related supervision should I provide?
If my family member is fascinated by cooking,
nutrition, or fitness, should those interests be
encouraged? Is it wise for a recovering patient to have a job
related to food or exercise?
How should I involve my family member in meal
planning, preparation, and food shopping?
How much weight gain should be expected in
what time period with anorexia nervosa?
What support can I offer during a time of weight
gain? Is it my responsibility to monitor refeeding and/or
weight? What procedures should I follow for
weighing? How do family members determine if purge
behavior is occurring in the home setting?
What action should I take if we notice this
behavior? If I become anxious or notice problems, who
should I call?
My family member doesn’t want anyone to know
about the illness. I do because it would help me to
share about the illness with select, carefully
chosen, discrete people in our lives. They could be
supportive, but I’m afraid that my family member
might see them as spies. What should I do?
If the patient is age 18, and often even younger,
parents will need written permission from the patient
to discuss his/her situation with a healthcare provider
(professional or facility).
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