Supporting families

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Body Trust® Knowledge Check

True or False: Weight stigma and other social determinants of health have a far greater impact on our health and well-being than personal lifestyle behaviors.

  • True
  • False

True or False: Body Trust is about perfecting health behaviors, not healing your relationship with food and body.

  • True
  • False

Teaching Clients to Set Boundaries

From the The Intuitive Eating Workbook: “Learn to say NO” (p. 116)
In social settings, it common for people to offer you more to eat.... ....Here are some ways you can politely say no to another offer of food:

1. No, thank you.
2. I would love to eat more food, but I couldn’t possibly have another bite without feeling uncomfortably full.
3. Your dessert [or whatever the food is] looks delicious, but I am really too full to eat anything else. But I would love to take some home with me if there is any left over.
4. No Thank you. Really.
5. Wow, your dish looks amazing. I am really too full to try it, but I would love to get the recipe from you, if you are willing to share it.
6. I just ate dinner and did not realize you would be serving a meal at your party! Everything looks delicious, but I am really too full to eat anything else. But I would be happy to take a doggie bag if you have too many leftovers.
7. I really appreciate that you made my favorite dish. It looks so yummy, and I know you spent a lot of time making it. I would really like this when I can savor and enjoy it, but I’m just too full right now.
8. No thank you, again.But I would not feel good physically if I eat any more of your delicious food. I don’t think you would want me to feel ill.
9. Even just one more bite of food is too much for my body right now. Thank you for respecting my wish to stay comfortable.
10. Yes, it’s true that I usually say yes to your offers of more food. But, I’m really working on listening to my body, for my health and comfort. And I have had enough to eat right now, thank you.

[Video] Communication 101: Essential Skills to Support Caregivers (60 minutes)

Knowledge Check 1

Which of the following is considered an ED fact and not a myth?

  • I need to/should force them to eat
  • They can recover on their own
  • All foods can be scary, even "diet" foods
  • Offering low fat/low sugar/"diet" foods feels safer for the person with the ED

True or False: For a loved one with an ED, offering the ability to choose from a wide variety of options at meal time can be helpful.

  • True
  • False

True or False: The following words describe forms of communication that are considered helpful when interacting with a loved one who has an ED: calmness, compassion, cooperation, consistency.

  • True
  • False

[Video] Caregivers - Supporting Ourselves While Supporting Others (43 minutes)

Additional Support Resources for Families

Knowledge Check 3

Which of the following would not be helpful for meal support at home?

  • Planning meals ahead of time
  • Only allow negotiation during planning of the meals, not when they are being cooked or served
  • Allow your loved one to be unaccompanied after a meal
  • Avoid food talk and body talk during meal time

True or False: Signs to watch for during or after a meal for someone who feels the need to "work off" the energy from their meal may be standing, pacing, leg raising, or half-sitting.

  • True
  • False

True or False: An intervention for someone with an eating disorder may be helpful to encourage them to seek treatment, similar to an intervention one might do for alcoholism or other drug use.

  • True
  • False

Which of the following would not be a way to support a loved one with an eating disorder?

  • Ask the person why they are doing this to you
  • Educate yourself about eating disorders
  • Distract during and after meals to help ease anxiety
  • Focus on positive personality traits and talents that have nothing to do with appearance

Eating Disorders Meal Support: Helpful Approaches for Families (35:37 minutes)

Click “Watch on YouTube” below to access this video.