The holidays are here, but for millions of Americans with an eating disorder, this can be the most challenging time of the year.
But by planning with family members and the people they trust, patients can manage.
That's according to Dr. Mary Tantillo, director of the Western New York Comprehensive Care Center for Eating Disorders.
She says planning is key, because patients will feel much better, and feel more successful in terms of getting through the holiday if they have friends and family they can plan with who they trust.
"You want to have a heart-to-heart about what your own meal plan looks like. They need to understand that and support you with that. If it's somebody you know, like an Aunt, or your Grandma that might know what's going on, you may even want to say 'you know grandma this year I'm going to bring my meal already packaged because I have a meal plan.' It takes the anxiety and uncertainty out of it, and the unpredictability, because patients have a hard time with those things," she said.
Dr. Tantillo says people with an eating disorder may even want to reconsider who they sit next two at Thanksgiving dinner, because even the most well intentioned people may do or say something that triggers the disorder.
Dr. Tantillo is conducting a multifamily family therapy group research study for adults 18 to 40 struggling with anorexia nervosa or a related eating disorder.
Contact the University of Rochester School of Nursing or visit http://research.son.rochester.edu/MFTG for more information.