Her 12-year-old had an eating disorder. Caregiving meant healing herself, too - USA Today

What the report says

USA Today reports that Beth Ayn Stansfield, a 65-year-old Virginia mother, began recognizing her own disordered eating patterns while helping her daughter Carly recover from an eating disorder diagnosed when Carly was 12. Stansfield said her daughter’s initial interest in dieting and running appeared harmless, but became more restrictive over time, including avoiding sweets, cutting carbohydrates and sometimes missing meals. Carly received treatment for more than three months at the Eating Recovery Center in Colorado, where family education prompted Stansfield to see parallels with her own behavior.

The story uses Stansfield’s experience to examine how parents and caregivers may confront their own food, exercise and body-image struggles during a child’s treatment. USA Today also features Kristi Humston of Kansas and Inga Yanoski, who each described realizing longstanding disordered eating after their children faced eating disorders. Yanoski said participating in high-calorie meals with her child and finding a therapist with eating-disorder expertise supported her own recovery as well.

Experts cited by USA Today stressed that eating disorders are not limited to people who are medically underweight. Ashley Moser of The Renfrew Center said preoccupation with food rules, exercise and body image can disrupt relationships and daily life. Lauren Salvatore of Northwell’s Cohen Children’s Medical Center said parents can still be strong advocates for their children, even if they are struggling themselves, and encouraged caregivers to seek help when needed.

The report highlights caregiver strain, citing an Equip survey in which many eating-disorder caregivers reported feeling overwhelmed and some reported anxiety, depression or disordered eating. USA Today included the National Alliance for Eating Disorders Helpline as a resource for readers seeking support.