Family Support in Eating Disorder Recovery

By: Cassie Smith, RD, LDN

It’s no secret that navigating eating disorder recovery takes a band of support. We often think of therapists, dietitians, and medical professionals when discussing a team, however, having a supportive family environment can also play a helpful part in recovery. With the help and guidance of their loved ones' treatment team, families can learn to support those close to them, and provide a solid foundation for their family member navigating recovery.

What exactly does this role look like for a parent, spouse, or other family member? Throughout recovery, social relationships help an individual feel heard, loved, and cared for. While the individual works to repair their own relationship with self and body, having a compassionate and collaborative environment helps to reinforce the
values they are looking to restore. For some, this looks like a parent or spouse, while for others this can mean extended family such as cousins, aunts or grandparents. Registered dietitians, therapists and medical professionals often opt to involve family members in their care, while types of support can vary based on the individual, some strategies can include bringing family members into individual sessions, updating them on recovery plans, or offering tips for support within the home.
This allows the family member to gain insight into what challenges their loved one is facing day to day, while seeking recovery from an eating disorder.

While supporting a family member in recovery is very helpful, it can also come with it’s own set of challenges. We know that eating disorders are caused for a variety of reasons, however, family members within the household might experience their own feelings of self-blame or guilt. It is helpful to gain support from professionals when offering support to loved ones so that you are able to process the emotions you are experiencing during the recovery journey.

Building a community of support is linked to greater recovery outcomes, but what if this doesn't look like family? While we recognize family support is helpful, we also acknowledge that some individuals face the challenge of limited or inadequate family support. Alternatively, we can also build community outside of family relationships by attending support groups, obtaining mentors, or bringing friends into our support circle.

We know that this is a challenging road to navigate, and are happy to provide further resources for treatment centers and professionals who specialize in working with eating disorders to help you or your loved ones on this path.