If you suspect that your child has an eating disorder, it's important to take her for evaluation. Treatment of eating disorders should be started as soon as the problem is recognized-and is most successful if begun in adolescence rather than later in life.

Teens with eating disorders are best treated by a team of professionals. Some of these individuals may include doctors, nurses, psychologists, dietitians or nutritionists and nurses. Treatment should be individualized and may be managed on an outpatient basis. When there are severe medical complications, a short inpatient hospital stay may be required for intensive medical monitoring. When outpatient treatment has failed, long-term residential treatment (care given away from home) is sometimes considered; in fact, this is becoming more common, especially for those with anorexia. Teens who need a residential treatment program do best in an all-teen home-like environment rather than in a program with all ages included.