Anorexia nervosa - Don’t wait to intervene

Anorexia nervosa is a bewildering mental illness that can have profound, occasionally lethal, consequences for those unfortunate enough to suffer from the condition.

If young teenagers are involved the disease can frustrate and challenge parents who can feel powerless to counteract a malaise threatening the very future of a loved one. This is a reality for so many families as the average age for the onset of the disease has fallen to just 13.5 years.

As in all of these situations early detection and treatment are by far the most advisable responses. Some parents may find it difficult to accept that a child might need help but having the courage to do so quickly serves everyone best in the long run.