Family-Based Treatment (FBT) for Eating Disorders
FBT is a therapeutic approach primarily used for treating adolescents with anorexia nervosa. Sessions involve all members of the family in weekly sessions. FBT emphasises the active involvement of the family in the treatment process, with the goal of empowering parents to take charge of their child’s recovery. Treatment aims to restore healthy eating behaviours and emotional well-being within the home environment. Parents are not seen as the cause of the disorder, but as a vital part of the solution. FBT focuses strongly on weight restoration rather than the psychological aspects of this illness. A young person needs to regain weight to address the immediate physical effects of the eating disorder and the negative impact that starvation has on mental health.
Research has shown FBT to be one of the most effective treatments for adolescent eating disorders and more effective particularly with younger adolescents.
It is structured around three phases,
- Phase 1 involves weight restoration and re-establishing normal eating patterns. Parents are given the responsibility of supervising meals, ensuring the child eats appropriately, supporting their child through distress, and making decisions about food.
- Phase 2 focuses on returning control over eating back to the adolescent while maintaining parental support. Autonomy is gradually reintroduced over food choices and eating behaviours, while maintaining a supportive family environment.
- Phase 3 involves helping the individual return to healthy adolescent development and building their identity away from the eating disorder. The family works on long-term maintenance and preventing relapse.
Particularly during phase 1, the responsibility of re-feeding a child can be emotionally and physically draining for parents. There can be little time away from ensuring all food is eaten, preventing self-destructive behaviours, and supporting through distress. FBT supports parents in being a united front against the eating disorder.
