Often these doubts can be dispelled by simply talking to her about food. For example, ask her how she would feel about having an extra spoonful of cereal or a sweet or chocolate. If her answer is that this would make her fat or that it would start her eating too much anorexia nervosa is a distinct possibility. Sadly, once the condition is established, it is very difficult to make a girl eat more by mere encouragement. The constant worry that once she has attained her normal weight she will be unable to control her eating is too strong even if she has sufficient insight to see that she has a weight problem.
Medical treatment is essential, and the longer the delay the poorer are the chances of success.
If weight loss is very severe a period of several months in hospital is usually necessary. The aim of this is to restore the anorexic to a state of good nutrition by bed rest and supervision of meals by trained nursing staff. At the same psychiatric treatment for associated anxiety or depression is given. If weight loss is less severe treatment can usually be offered in an outpatients' clinic. Here the psychotherapist will try to establish a good and close doctor patient relationship.