Can My Teen Fully Recover from an Eating Disorder?

Written by Cristina Luibil MS, RD, LDN with support from Sabrina Stadelman

As a parent or caregiver to a teen struggling with an eating disorder, you may be feeling scared or overwhelmed. Eating disorders can be difficult, and for your teen, eating and mealtimes may feel like an impossible task. All of these feelings are normal, and recovery isn’t easy. Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions, and it’s difficult for anyone struggling with an eating disorder to overcome disordered thoughts and restrictive eating patterns. 

How Long Will Eating Disorder Recovery Take?

Eating disorder (ED) recovery is best thought of as on a spectrum vs. linear; it does not move straight from diagnosed to recovered. The ED recovery process ebbs and flows over time, and this is completely normal (although this may feel discouraging!)

As a parent or caregiver, it’s important to know that full recovery from an eating disorder will likely take time, but it is possible. "Full recovery” for every person looks different, too. With the support and expertise of a treatment team, as well as your consistent support and encouragement, your teen can continue to overcome any challenges they may face in recovery. 

Is Full Recovery From an Eating Disorder Possible?

Recovery from an eating disorder is possible with proper treatment and early diagnosis. Early diagnosis and intervention are very important, as it significantly increases the likelihood of making a long-term recovery. Proper treatment is also essential, and should include nutritional support from a registered dietitian, medical monitoring, and psychological support from qualified mental health professionals. 

What Factors Can Affect Eating Disorder Recovery?

The most important factors in eating disorder recovery are early diagnosis and proper treatment. Early diagnosis and intervention are important because the longer an eating disorder persists, the more it can negatively impact your teen. Not only will disordered thoughts and restrictive eating patterns become harder to break the longer they continue, but eating disorders can also result in long-term physical health complications. 

Disordered eating can lead to many nutrient deficiencies, and can also increase the risk of developing other diseases. Nutrient deficiencies that result from eating disorders can also increase the risk of osteoporosis later in life and can lead to loss of a menstrual cycle in teenage and adolescent girls. 

Oftentimes, eating disorders don’t look obvious in the early stages. As a parent or caregiver, it is important to pay attention to early warning signs, such as:

• Restricting food intake

• Cutting out certain food groups or foods they used to enjoy

• Unexplained or rapid weight loss

• Excessive exercise 

• Refusing to eat around others 

• Worries or rules around food or eating 

• Intense focus on “healthy” eating

• Eating in secret 

• Going to the bathroom immediately after meals

If you notice any of these signs, it is important not to ignore them. Talk to your teen’s primary care provider about your concerns and any of the signs you notice.

If your teen is diagnosed with an eating disorder, the treatment they receive will be essential to helping them make a long-lasting recovery. It should include nutrition support and counseling from a specialized registered dietitian, medical monitoring, and psychological support from qualified mental health professionals. A social support network is also important, and it includes you as a parent or caregiver. Your teen will need your support and encouragement, and modeling a healthy relationship with food is an important example for your teen to see. 

What Should I Expect in Your Teen’s Eating Disorder Treatment and Recovery?

Before beginning treatment, it’s important for the doctor, therapist, and RD to have all of the information they need about your teen’s eating habits, exercise habits, thoughts and feelings surrounding eating and body image, any purging mechanisms used (laxatives, vomiting, over-exercising, etc.), and physical signs or symptoms of malnutrition. This will allow providers to determine the type and severity of eating disorder that your teen has, which will be important in determining their treatment plan. 

As a parent or caregiver, it’s important that you pay attention to these signs and symptoms as well. Teens suffering from an eating disorder often will try to hide it, and this only delays treatment, which can make recovery harder. It’s important to have open and honest conversations with your teen and their treatment team during recovery to address any challenges – not just in the beginning of treatment, but throughout the whole process – and achieve the best recovery outcomes possible.

Eating disorder recovery is challenging, and as a parent or caregiver, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed or even fearful, but the most important thing is to ensure that your teen continues to receive the support that they need. With early intervention and consistent support, your teen can achieve long-lasting recovery.  

If you’re looking for support for a teen struggling with an eating disorder, Aterra Nutrition offers virtual nutrition counseling and support for eating disorder recovery with a registered dietitian. We offer one-on-one nutrition counseling for those in DC, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and Michigan. Learn more about the eating disorder services Aterra Nutrition offers on our website at aterranutrition.com.

About the Author

Cristina Luibil, MS, RD, LDN specializes in eating disorder recovery and Intuitive Eating for teens and adults. Aterra Nutrition provides virtual nutrition counseling for those in DC, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and Michigan. This post was researched and written in conjunction with Sabrina Stadelman, dietetics student and nutrition assistant at Aterra Nutrition. Learn more about the whole team at aterranutrition.com/about.

Disclaimer: The information shared in this blog is for general educational and informational purposes only. It may not be tailored to your specific health needs as it is written here. This content is not intended to replace personalized medical advice, nutrition counseling, or medical nutrition therapy. Any recipes or suggestions provided are meant to inspire and should be used at your discretion. Always consult with your own registered dietitian, physician, or healthcare provider before making changes to your nutrition, lifestyle, or treatment plan. If you choose,

If you have other nutrition and Intuitive Eating goals for you or the entire family, our sister company, Radica Family Nutrition, would love to help.