An individual with an eating disorder must want to change. The first phase is to alter the way the anorexic person perceives food and the feeling of hunger. They also need to change their behavior around the issue of food and weight. It is important that they recognize being dangerously underweight and the actual value of nourishment. Once the anorexics decide to refrain from starving themselves, it is crucial to re-nourish their bodies.

Therapy
Family therapy has been successful in educating the loved ones on support and the need for support. Group therapy is initially unsuccessful due to the patient not wanting to admit to a problem. In addition to group therapy, psychiatrists can prescribe medications if necessary.

Clinicians use a combination of behavioral and cognitive techniques when attempting to cure eating disorders. Behavioral therapy applies learning principles to treatment. This can be quite useful in helping people overcome their inhibitions and fears and increase their coping skills. A patient’s internal drive or desire to succeed and belief they can do so, called self-efficacy, is an important quality that motivates the patient as they acquire the skills necessary for improvement. Being able to trust nursing staff in an inpatient setting, counselors, dietitians, physicians, and loved ones is important. Individuals feel secure, comfortable and safe with their illness. They need to feel that same love from family and friends in order to make it through therapy. Cognitive therapy helps clients think more adaptively. The goal of this technique is to better their self-perception and view of the world in hopes of eliminating irrational thoughts. Family therapy is centered around the idea that many problems arise from family behavior patterns. Initially this method confronts current family issues by minimizing blame, guilt and ill feelings towards one another. An emphasis is placed on open-mindedness and cooperation. An anorexic may come from a family who is enmeshing. The family is so controlling and rigid that the anorexics may lose their sense of individuality and control over their own life. Eating disorders are a way to gain control over one aspect of their life. 

Inpatient Program
Remaining at the hospital is more effective for treating severe anorexia since the progress can more easily be monitored. Increasing the patient’s weight is a priority of the treatment. Since weight gain can be traumatic to an anorexic person, nursing staff is necessary. Sometimes the patient will hide the food or dispose of it as opposed to eating. In critical situations, a patient may be forced to eat through a tube or strapped down in order to be re-hydrated. It is important to set goals like eating just 1,000 calories per day and increase intake overtime. Since the heart is unable to sustain a diet of 3,000 calories at first, set low goals.
 
It is vital to the improvement of anorexia nervosa, for the patient to realize just how serious their situation can be. 12% of female deaths are due to this disorder. Death is probable if the person does not undergo treatment immediately.

Contingency Management
Exercise is reinforcing but anorexics are not permitted to do so because of their dangerous condition. If a patient eats all of their food, they are allowed to exercise. They believe physical activity helps them maintain their body weight. Another option would be to authorize exercise if the individual gains a certain amount of weight.