What Can I Do To Help My 13 Year Old Daughter That Binges, Hoards, And Hides The Wrappers And Dishes Of The Foods Eaten?

Hi: This Is A Very Difficult
Amy Colwell – 11/25/2011 – 19:57

Hi:

This is a very difficult situation for you, as your daughter is being quite secretive about her food hoarding and binging.

However, she is only 13 years old, so as a parent – you are in a good position to make sure that she receives some help with this. Unfortunately, eating disorders do not go away on their own, and often get worse without professional treatment.

You might want to have your daughter see her family physician just to rule out any medical reasons behind her behavior. There are also lots of excellent therapists who can work with the whole family in order to support your daughter, and provide you with the means to cope with her challenging behavior.

It is really important to avoid getting in a power struggle with your daughter over her eating behavior. Set firm limits and boundaries and stick to them. You can offer your daughter lots of love and encouragement while making it clear that you do not support her attempts to cover up her binging.

Don’t forget to take care of yourself during this stressful situation. It can be emotionally draining trying to cope with a family member’s eating disorder, and it is especially hard to remain calm and objective when you are feeling exhausted and overwhelmed.

I hope this helps a little. Please take care.

Amy