Emma Farnsworth knows first-hand the pain and confusion of trying to overcome an eating disorder. She spent several weeks at an eating disorder treatment facility in St. Louis. What she discovered is that, while an eating disorder certainly damages the body, it has an equally devastating affect on the mind and soul.

"Eating disorders are abusive, selfish, vacuous and deadly - but the media glamorizes them by giving them attention, even when showing a skeletal model on the verge of death. I have seldom come across a truly honest article about the emotional and mental burden of anorexia and bulimia."

Farnsworth recounts her time in the treatment center, getting to know the other girls. Aside from their eating disorders, she says, many seemed quite normal. All wanted to be good friends and siblings and hopefully good wives and moms someday. But eating disorders slowly wore away at their joy and hope, even more than their bodies. Read more at MSNBC.MSN.com.

Teens with eating disorders can find help at an adolescent residential treatment center such as Island View. Not sure what exactly your teen is suffering from? The Aspen Institute of Behavioral Assessment can diagnosis your child and form a treatment plan.

Labels: effects_of_eating_disorders, support, treatment