... The sufferer has convinced herself that she is too fat and that she HAS to lose weight. The sufferer is unlikely to listen to advice from family or friends about the need for help so they should be prepared to seek medical help on the patient's behalf. Treatment is difficult because people with eating disorders believe that there is nothing wrong with them. Patients in the early stages of anorexia or bulimia (less than 5 months or with just a small amount of weight loss) may be successfully treated without having to be admitted to hospital. But for successful treatment patients must be willing to change and have family and friends to help them. People with more serious anorexia or bulimia need care in hospital, usually in a special unit for people with an eating disorder. Treatment involves more than changing the person's eating habits. Anorexic and bulimic patients often ...

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