Eating disorders and body image issues affect nearly everyone. Whether you’ve personally been affected or know someone who has been, share your story with us.
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Treatment
- Eating disorders are serious health conditions that can be both physically and emotionally destructive.
- People with eating disorders need to seek professional help.
- Early diagnosis and intervention may enhance recovery.
- Eating disorders can be chronic, debilitating, and even life- threatening conditions.
Treatment is available. Recovery is possible.
What does treatment involve?
The most effective and long-lasting treatment for an eating disorder is some form of psychotherapy or counseling, coupled with careful attention to medical and nutritional needs. Ideally, this treatment should be tailored to the individual and will vary according to both severity of the disorder and the patient’s individual problems, needs and strengths.
- Typically, care is provided by a licensed health professional, including but not limited to a psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker, nutritionist, and/or primary care physician.
- Care should be coordinated and provided by a health professional with expertise and experience in dealing with eating disorders.
Psychological counseling must address both the eating disordered symptoms and the psychological, interpersonal, and cultural forces that contribute to, or maintain, the eating disorder. Nutritional counseling is also necessary and should incorporate education about nutritional needs and planning for and monitoring rational choices of the individual patients.
Many people with eating disorders respond to outpatient therapy, including individual, group or family therapy and medical management by their primary care provider. Support groups, nutrition counseling, and psychiatric medications under careful supervision have also proven helpful for some individuals.
Inpatient care (including hospitalization and/or residential care in eating disorders specialty unit or facility) is necessary when an eating disorder has led to physical problems that may be life- threatening, or when an eating disorder has reached a level of severe psychological or behavioral problems. Inpatient stays typically require a period of outpatient follow-up and aftercare to address the underlying issues is the individual’s eating disorder.
The exact treatment needs of each individual will vary. It is important for individuals struggling with eating disorder to find a health professional they trust to help coordinate and oversee their care.
Source: National Eating Disorder Association