Purging—whether through vomiting, laxative use, excessive exercise, or fasting—is a serious and dangerous behavior associated with bulimia nervosa, binge-purge subtype anorexia, and other eating disorders. Helping a teen overcome purging requires compassion, medical and psychological intervention, and a structured recovery plan.

When a child has an eating disorder (ED), the entire family is impacted—including siblings. While parents focus on meal support and medical care, siblings may experience confusion, worry, resentment, or guilt. Providing support for siblings is just as important to maintaining a healthy family dynamic during recovery.

Recovering from an eating disorder (ED) as a family is challenging, emotional, and requires structure, patience, and teamwork. Below is an example of what a typical day might look like for a family supporting a child through eating disorder recovery, incorporating meal structure, therapy, emotional support, and self-care.