Therapist advising food diary for daughter with possible eating disorder?

[rasli]

My daughter is possibly at the very early stages of an eating disorder- restricting food, throwing up after some meals. Luckily we have discovered this quite quickly and I arranged for her to see an adolescent therapist after a discussion with our GP.

the therapist told her to write down what she eats every day. This is concerning me as I think it will make her fixate even more on what she is/isn’t eating.

But maybe I am wrong and this is good advice? She is a young teenager if that makes any difference.

Try it. See what happens. Update the therapist if you think it helps or hinders

I see what you mean about fixating on it. Seeing it all listed out she may begin to count the calories etc etc.
Could you do the writing down instead? Keep it for yourself?

My teenage dd has ARFID, struggles to keep her weight up, and recently developed migraines. Of course multiple medical professionals and bystanders have suggested a food journal to watch for migraine triggers. I shut that down fast. I told her she could make notes retroactively, but that she should not keep a journal of what she eats. I’m also watching for patterns. We will figure out her triggers, without giving her another opportunity to fixate on her food intake.

they don’t even think about the possible implications when they suggest the food journal so casually, especially to preteen and teenage girls.

Eating patterns are part of the diagnostic criteria for all eating disorders and a food journal is the accepted form of evidence.

I concur that the patient logging the food is likely to make the ED worse. A parent doing the logging is a safer option.

Thanks everyone. I’ve sent her a message saying I was concerned and agreed to hold off for now and discuss it further at the next appointment.

My son who is 15 has ARFID food disorder. He doesn't know that I've notice and I'm finding it really difficult to bring it up in conversation. I don't want to make it an issue with him incase his eating habits change and he becomes secretive.
He frustrated tonight because he's hungry and he goes to bed to avoid eating. I'm struggling to know how to help him