Some ways to prevent anorexia nervosa from
developing are as follows:
-If you are a parent, do not obsess about your own
weight and appearance in front of your children.
-Do not tease your children about their body shapes
or compare them to others.
-Make it clear that you love and accept your children
as they are.
-Try to eat meals together as a family whenever
possible.
-Remind children that the models they see on television
and in fashion magazines have extreme, not
normal or healthy bodies.
-Do not put your child on a diet unless advised to by
your pediatrician.
-Block your child from visiting pro-anorexia Websites.
These are sites where people with anorexia
give advice on extreme weight loss techniques and
support each other’s distorted body image.
-If your child is a competitive athlete, get to know the
coach and the coach’s attitude toward weight.
-If you think your child has an eating disorder, do not
wait to intervene and the professional help. The
sooner the disorder is treated, the easier it is to cure.
Relapses happen to many people with anorexia.
People who are recovering from anorexia can help
prevent themselves from relapsing by:
-never dieting; instead plan healthy meals
-staying in treatment
-monitoring negative self-talk; practicing positive
self-talk
-spending time doing something enjoyable every day
-staying busy, but not overly busy; getting at least
seven hours of sleep each night
-spending time each day with people you care about
and who care about you
