Family-Based Treatment (FBT)

FBT is an evidence-based approach to treating eating disorders, particularly Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa in adolescents and young adults. FBT recognizes the essential role families can play in supporting recovery and views parents and caregivers as valuable resources in helping their child overcome an eating disorder.

Treatment is structured around empowering parents and caregivers to take an active role in interrupting eating disorder behaviors, restoring healthy eating patterns, and supporting nutritional rehabilitation. Rather than assigning blame to the family, FBT views the eating disorder as an illness that has disrupted family life and works collaboratively with parents to help their child regain physical and emotional health.

As treatment progresses, responsibility for eating is gradually returned to the adolescent as they demonstrate increased independence and the ability to maintain recovery. The final phase focuses on establishing age-appropriate independence, addressing developmental challenges, and strengthening the family's ability to support long-term recovery.

FBT is a collaborative, structured treatment that helps families work together to reduce eating disorder symptoms, restore health, and support lasting recovery.