Tips for guaranteed weight loss

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Nutritional therapy

Education by a dietician about healthy eating, proper nutrition and balanced meals, following a meal plan to reach normal healthy weight.

Counselling

This is the most important aspect in helping a person diagnosed with an eating disorder. The counsellor takes the person to the root of the problem through counselling techniques like:

Behavioural therapy

Here the counsellor helps the patient to set a goal, assist in self-monitoring and when this is achieved uses a reward that the patient likes for further motivation. During this process if uncomfortable feelings arise they are taught coping strategies and relaxation techniques to fight the triggers.

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Cognitive therapy

Here the counsellor focuses on improving self awareness. The ridiculousness and irrationality about the disorder is challenged and proved otherwise to the patient. The disadvantages of the disorder in the long run are highlighted to the patient as well.

Family therapy

Friends and family need to be caring and supportive. Screaming at these patients by telling them how dangerous their disorder is will not help. Listen to these patients without judging them and express to them that they are always there for them. There is no easy solution for such recovery. Only the patient can make changes in their attitude and behaviour. These changes take time. The family needs to make changes to accommodate their growth by sharing and socialising that does not involve food. Avoid getting into discussions and arguments about weight and food.

Nonetheless, the family needs to be alert about certain clues that may indicate that the patient is in relapse. Namely,

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Wearing baggy clothes to hide body shape and weight loss, running to the bathroom immediately after meals, trying to disguise the smell of vomitus, in order not to get caught, refusal to eat with everybody, sudden sewage problem since these patients flush food down in the bathroom.


Group therapy

People with food disorders talk to each other in a supervised set-up. This reduces the isolation they feel. Here, each member supports the other through stories of recovery and sharing experience. Remember, an eating disorder is not a disease, it's just a state of mind. So, whatever you do, don't turn into a food police. A person with an eating disorder needs counselling and support, and not dictators standing over the table with a calorie counter.