Columnist can’t self-diagnose anorexia

People are so easy to chide self-diagnosis:reader can’t self-diagnose anorexia, needs to see doctor, but fall easily into a worse trap: peddling old and damaging ideas.





I'd like to vacuum the Internet and the industry of these tired ideas: "Most of the current theories revolve around self-image problems and family dysfunction."





But the sad fact is that most doctors will remember the same (wrong) thing from their hour of med school on eating difficulties. And most doctors aren't trained to recognize, treat, or understand eating disorders - so if you suspect you or a loved one has an eating disorder don't just go to a doctor - make sure to press for a specialist in eating disorders.



Start with members of theAcademy for Eating Disorders, or of theInternational Association of Eating Disorder Professionals. Regularly attends the American conference put on by the National Eating Disorders Association, that's good, too. And no, it is not rude to ask. Anyone who is willing to treat your child, but not willing to belong to one of those groups or receive ongoing training, may not specialize enough to save your child's life. Eating disorder research is moving forward every month - your child deserves a clinical team that is up to date.