Hello Picasso,

I am not sure if you mean that the adult has the eating disorder, or the adult/substitute parent is the one who wants to help.

Either way, you can get a great deal of helpful information from the websites

www.maudsleyparents.org and www.feast-ed.org

I hope the information there will answer your questions.

I wish you health and happiness!

Dr. Sari Shepphird, author of 100 Questions and Answers about Anorexia Nervosa

The University of Chicago recently ran a case series on family-based treatment (the Maudsley approach) for young adults. You can find information here: http://www.maudsleyparents.org/youngadults.html In all these cases there was no "substitute parent"--the actual parents helped their kids recover. 

UNC-Chapel Hill is researching a couples intervention for anorexia nervosa. It's not the Maudsley approach, but it looks interesting. http://www.med.unc.edu/psych/eatingdisorders/patient-care-1/clinical-trials/ucan 

Jane Cawley, co-chair

Maudsley Parents

http://www.maudsleyparents.org/