Find Eating Disorder Treatments near you

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FAQs:

What is an Eating Disorder?

There is a commonly held misconception that eating disorders are a lifestyle choice. Eating disorders are serious and often fatal illnesses that are associated with severe disturbances in people’s eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions. Preoccupation with food, body weight, and shape may also signal an eating disorder.

What is a Binge Eating Disorder?

Binge-eating disorder is a condition where people lose control of their eating and have reoccurring episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food. Unlike bulimia nervosa, periods of binge eating are not followed by purging, excessive exercise, or fasting. As a result, people with binge-eating disorder are often overweight or obese.

What is Disordered Eating?

Disordered eating is a broad umbrella term that includes disordered relationships with food, exercise, and one’s body. Disordered eating is clinically defined as “a wide range of irregular eating behaviors that do not warrant a diagnosis of a specific eating disorder”. This means that disordered eating is not a diagnosis in itself, but rather a term used to describe the behavior patterns seen in someone who does not fit within the specific criteria for any of the eating disorders listed in the DSM-5.

Should Eating Disorders Be Considered a Mental Illness?

Eating disorders are mental illnesses. They have been recognized by the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) since the 1980s.  The current DSM, edition 5, now recognizes 8 categories of feeding and eating disorders. The tricky thing about eating disorders is that they also are very medical. Many of the behaviors associated with each of the eating disorder diagnoses can have dangerous impacts on both physical and psychological well-being. As such, anyone living with an eating disorder must receive care from a full team of multi-disciplinary professionals including a therapist, dietitian, medical doctor, and/or a prescriber if necessary.

How Common are Eating Disorders?

Approximately 24 million people in the United States suffer from an eating disorder, according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders.  Moreover, eating disorders are among the deadliest mental illnesses, second only to opioid addiction, resulting in approximately 10,200 deaths each year.

Are Eating Disorders Genetic?

Researchers think so—eating disorders can be a result of both genetic and environmental influences. Several studies suggest that people with anorexia share genetic abnormalities. While similar studies haven’t been conducted on bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, researchers still believe these eating disorders have a genetic component. Researchers say that between 40% and 60% of the vulnerability to eating disorders comes from genetic factors. Understanding what those genes are could lead to better treatment options. But conducting all of the necessary research will take time.

What is the Most Common Eating Disorder in Both Males and Females?

The answer to this question is difficult to get a conclusion of. However, based on the statistics and the number of patients presenting these disorders, binge eating disorder may be the most common eating disorder. This is based on the growing population of obese and depressed patients noting their dissatisfaction with their weight and body shape.

Can Outpatient Eating Disorder Treatment Really Work?

Research shows that outpatient treatment leads to good outcomes for many patients, and is usually the best format for early intervention, even in acute cases. In one study comparing inpatient and outpatient eating disorder treatment for patients with anorexia, researchers found that those in outpatient treatment had better adherence and were twice as likely to express positive views of their care. Parents were also much more satisfied with outpatient treatment.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, FBT—which is always an outpatient treatment—is the most effective treatment for children and teens with eating disorders. Time and again, research has found not only that FBT works, but is also cost-effective and decreases the need for hospitalization. Equip’s research has also found that FBT works just as well when delivered virtually.

How Long Does Eating Disorder Treatment Take?

Some patients are in treatment for 3 to 6 weeks, some for 3 to 6 months, and others longer. It depends on the person, the eating disorder, their family situation, the level of severity, and more. Patients who have struggled for years with their eating disorder will often be in treatment for a longer period as they work to overcome their eating disorder behaviors that have had years to take root.

How Much Does Inpatient Eating Disorder Treatment Cost?

The cost of eating disorder treatment varies widely—from inpatient hospitalization that can cost up to $19,000 to month-long residential programs that can average $1,200 a day to outpatient therapy hourly charges of $100 to $200 per session. Many insurance providers cover eating disorder treatment so individual costs can range from $0 to whatever coinsurance or copay amounts your plan requires.

Types of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are a group of related conditions involving extreme food and weight issues, but each disorder has unique symptoms and diagnosis criteria. Here are six of the most common eating disorders and their symptoms.

1. Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is likely the most well-known eating disorder. It generally develops during adolescence or young adulthood and tends to affect more women than men. People with anorexia generally view themselves as overweight, even if they’re dangerously underweight. They tend to constantly monitor their weight, avoid eating certain types of foods, and severely restrict their calorie intake.  Anorexia is officially categorized into two subtypes — the restricting type and the binge eating and purging type. Individuals with the restricting type lose weight solely through dieting, fasting, or excessive exercise. Individuals with the binge eating and purging type may binge on large amounts of food or eat very little. In both cases, after they eat, they purge using activities such as vomiting, taking laxatives or diuretics, or exercising excessively. Anorexia can be very damaging to the body. Over time, individuals living with it may experience thinning of their bones, infertility, and brittle hair and nails. In severe cases, anorexia can result in heart, brain, or multi-organ failure and death.

2. Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is another well-known eating disorder. Like anorexia, bulimia tends to develop during adolescence and early adulthood and appears to be less common among men than women. People with bulimia frequently eat unusually large amounts of food in a specific period. Each binge-eating episode usually continues until the person becomes painfully full. During a binge, the person usually feels that they cannot stop eating or control how much they are eating. Binges can happen with any type of food but most commonly occur with foods the individual would usually avoid. Individuals with bulimia then attempt to purge to compensate for the calories consumed and to relieve gut discomfort.

3. Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder is the most prevalent form of eating disorder and one of the most common chronic illnesses among adolescents. It typically begins during adolescence and early adulthood, although it can develop later on. Individuals with this disorder have symptoms similar to those of bulimia or the binge eating subtype of anorexia. For instance, they typically eat unusually large amounts of food in relatively short periods and feel a lack of control during binges. People with binge eating disorder do not restrict calories or use purging behaviors, such as vomiting or excessive exercise, to compensate for their binges.

4. Pica

Pica is an eating disorder that involves eating things that are not considered food and that do not provide nutritional value. Individuals with pica crave non-food substances such as ice, dirt, soil, chalk, soap, paper, hair, cloth, wool, pebbles, laundry detergent, or cornstarch. Pica can occur in adults, children, and adolescents. It is most frequently seen in individuals with conditions that affect daily functioning, including intellectual disabilities, developmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, and mental health conditions such as schizophrenia. Individuals with pica may be at an increased risk of poisoning, infections, gut injuries, and nutritional deficiencies. Depending on the substances ingested, pica may be fatal. However, for the condition to be considered pica, the eating of non-food substances must not be a typical part of someone’s culture or religion. In addition, it must not be considered a socially acceptable practice by a person’s peers.

5. Rumination Disorder

Rumination disorder is another newly recognized eating disorder. It describes a condition in which a person regurgitates food they have previously chewed and swallowed, re-chews it, and then either re-swallows it or spits it out. This rumination typically occurs within the first 30 minutes after a meal. This disorder can develop during infancy, childhood, or adulthood. In infants, it tends to develop between 3 and 12 months of age and often disappears on its own. Children and adults with the condition usually require therapy to resolve it. If not resolved in infants, rumination disorder can result in weight loss and severe malnutrition that can be fatal. Adults with this disorder may restrict the amount of food they eat, especially in public. This may lead them to lose weight and become underweight.

6. Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a new name for an old disorder. The term has replaced the term “feeding disorder of infancy and early childhood,” a diagnosis previously reserved for children under age 7. Individuals with this disorder experience disturbed eating due to either a lack of interest in eating or a distaste for certain smells, tastes, colors, textures, or temperatures. It’s important to note that ARFID goes beyond common behaviors such as picky eating in toddlers or lower food intake in older adults. Moreover, it does not include the avoidance or restriction of foods due to lack of availability or religious or cultural practices.

Other Kinds of Eating Disorders

In addition to the six eating disorders above, other less-known or less common eating disorders also exist. These include:

1. Purging disorder. Individuals with purging disorders often use purging behaviors, such as vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, or excessive exercising, to control their weight or shape. However, they do not binge.

2. Night eating syndrome. Individuals with this syndrome frequently eat excessively at night, often after awakening from sleep.

3. Other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED). While it is not found in the DSM-5, this category includes any other conditions that have symptoms similar to those of an eating disorder but don’t fit any of the disorders above. One disorder that may currently fall under OSFED is orthorexia. Although orthorexia is increasingly mentioned in the media and scientific studies, the DSM does not yet recognize it as a separate eating disorder.

Individuals with orthorexia tend to have an obsessive focus on healthy eating to an extent that disrupts their daily lives. They may compulsively check ingredient lists and nutritional labels and obsessively follow “healthy lifestyle” accounts on social media. Someone with this condition may eliminate entire food groups, fearing that they’re unhealthy. This can lead to malnutrition, severe weight loss, difficulty eating outside the home, and emotional distress. Individuals with orthorexia are rarely focused on losing weight. Instead, their self-worth, identity, or satisfaction is dependent on how well they comply with their self-imposed diet rules.

Eating Disorder Signs and Symptoms

Eating disorders affect a person physically, behaviorally, emotionally, and psychologically. Prominent signs of an eating disorder include:

1. Dramatic weight gain or loss

2. Frequently talking about food, weight, and shape

3. Rapid or persistent decline or increase in food intake

4. Excessive or compulsive exercise patterns

5. Purging, restricting, binge eating, or compulsive eating

6. Abuse of diet pills, laxatives, diuretics, or emetics

7. Denial of food and eating problems, despite the concerns of others

8. Eating in secret, hiding food, disrupting meals, or feeling out of control with food

9. Medical complications, such as menstrual irregularity, dizziness, fainting, bruising, dry skin, leg cramps, hair loss, brittle hair, osteoporosis, diarrhea, constipation, dental problems, diabetes, chest pain, heart disease, heartburn, shortness of breath, organ failure, and other serious symptoms

Understanding and recognizing the early signs of an eating disorder is a critical step in seeking timely and effective treatment. Early detection of eating disorder symptoms can significantly alter the course of recovery, offering a greater chance for a healthier future. When individuals and their loved ones are educated about the signs of an eating disorder, they are better equipped to seek help before the condition progresses. This proactive approach not only mitigates the severe physical and psychological impacts but also addresses the underlying issues that contribute to the disorder.

It’s essential to take any warning signs seriously and consider them as a prompt to seek professional guidance. Early intervention is a powerful tool in the journey toward healing and recovery, emphasizing the importance of vigilance and responsiveness to the initial indicators of an eating disorder.

Causes of Eating Disorders

There's no one cause for eating disorders. Genes, environments, and stressful events all play a role. Some things can increase a person's chance of having an eating disorder, such as:

- poor body image

- too much focus on weight or looks

- dieting at a young age

- playing sports that focus on weight (gymnastics, ballet, ice skating, and wrestling)

- having a family member with an eating disorder

- mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, or OCD

Risk Factors for Eating Disorders

Anyone can develop an eating disorder. Eating disorders often start in the teen and young adult years. But they can occur at any age. Certain factors may increase the risk of developing an eating disorder, including:

1. Family history. Eating disorders are more likely to occur in people who have parents or siblings who've had an eating disorder.

2. Other mental health issues. Trauma, anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other mental health issues can increase the likelihood of an eating disorder.

3. Dieting and starvation. Frequent dieting is a risk factor for an eating disorder, especially with weight that is constantly going up and down when getting on and off new diets. There is strong evidence that many of the symptoms of an eating disorder are symptoms of starvation. Starvation affects the brain and can lead to mood changes, rigid thinking, anxiety, and reduced appetite. This may cause severely limited eating or problem eating behaviors to continue and make it difficult to return to healthy eating habits.

4. A history of weight bullying. People who have been teased or bullied for their weight are more likely to develop problems with eating and eating disorders. This includes people who have been made to feel ashamed of their weight by peers, healthcare professionals, coaches, teachers, or family members.

5. Stress. Whether it's heading off to college, moving, landing a new job, or a family or relationship issue, change can bring stress. Stress may increase the risk of an eating disorder.

Complications of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders cause a wide variety of complications, some of them life-threatening. The more severe or long-lasting the eating disorder, the more likely it is that serious complications may occur. These may include:

- Serious health problems.

- Depression and anxiety.

- Suicidal thoughts or behavior.

- Problems with growth and development.

- Social and relationship problems.

- Substance use disorders.

- Work and school issues.

- Death.

What are the Different Eating Disorder Treatment Near Me

Treatments for eating disorders vary depending on the type and your specific needs. Even if you don’t have a diagnosed eating disorder, an expert can help you address and manage food-related issues. Treatments include:

1. Psychotherapy: A mental health professional can determine the best psychotherapy for your situation. Many people with eating disorders improve with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This form of therapy helps you understand and change distorted thinking patterns that drive behaviors and emotions.

2. Maudsley approach: This form of family therapy helps parents of teenagers with anorexia. Parents actively guide a child’s eating while they learn healthier habits.

3. Medications: Some people with eating disorders have other conditions, like anxiety or depression. Taking antidepressants or other medications can improve these conditions. As a result, your thoughts about yourself and food improve.

4. Nutrition counseling: A registered dietitian with training in eating disorders can help improve eating habits and develop nutritious meal plans. This specialist can also offer tips for grocery shopping, meal planning, and preparation.

The best treatment approach is often a combination of all of these professionals working together to obtain a comprehensive treatment to address the physical, mental, and behavioral aspects.

 

The 4 Levels of Eating Disorder Treatment 

While there are arguably more than four levels of care for eating disorders, it's generally agreed that there are four higher-level types of treatment for eating disorder behaviors.

From the most intensive to the least intensive, these levels include:

1. Inpatient/medical hospitalization: The most intensive form of care, inpatient treatment is generally reserved for those experiencing a physical or mental health crisis. Patients undergo 24-hour medical monitoring and care, with a focus on medical stabilization.

2. Residential treatment: A patient at this level of care must be physically stable but may still be psychologically unstable. Residential treatment also involves 24-hour access to medical care, but programs are designed for longer-term stays.

3. Partial hospitalization: Also called a day program, partial hospitalization (PHP) involves commuting to treatment while living at home. Patients in a PHP may participate in significant amounts of treatment, but programs are usually stepped down as recovery progresses.

4. Intensive outpatient treatment: The patient is both medically and psychologically stable and has their eating disorder treatment under sufficient control. Patients at this stage are ready to add social responsibilities like work and school into their continuing recovery journey.

When determining a patient’s initial level of care, a multidisciplinary treatment team must keep several considerations in mind, including the patient’s overall physical condition, psychology, severity of disordered eating behaviors, and social circumstances. This is opposed to relying on physical parameters, such as weight, to make this determination.

 

Therapies Used in Eating Disorder Treatment

Here is an overview of the types of treatments commonly used in eating disorder programs. Your treatment plan will likely include a variety of these therapies.

1. Group Therapy

Group therapy is a major component of most treatment programs. It involves meeting with a group of peers and discussing recovery topics with the guidance of one or more clinicians. The group setting provides vital peer support.

2. Individual Therapy

In addition to group therapy sessions, you will have time to meet with your therapist one-on-one to learn additional recovery skills and discuss your treatment progress.

3. Family Therapy

Family therapy sessions involve you and a member of your family or support network. The purpose of these sessions is to educate relatives on how they can effectively support you in recovery. This type of therapy also explores how the eating disorder has affected the rest of the family members, and how the home environment may be contributing to eating disorder thoughts and behaviors.

4. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy is commonly used to treat a range of mental health conditions, including eating disorders. This therapeutic approach uses the connection between thoughts and behaviors to help you develop healthier habits. Through CBT exercises, you will identify negative thought patterns and challenge them. You will also learn healthy coping mechanisms for strong emotions.

5. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical behavior therapy is a modified version of cognitive behavioral therapy that was originally developed for the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder. DBT is also highly effective for treating people with eating disorders and other mental health conditions. Clients are educated in four areas – mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotion regulation.

6. Motivational Interviewing

This therapy is often short-term. The therapist takes the role of a listener while discussing the client’s need to change and reasons for changing. The purpose of motivational interviewing is to help you commit fully to your treatment plan.

7. Narrative Therapy

The idea behind narrative therapy is to “rewrite” your own story so that you can live the life you want. This type of therapy focuses on differentiating you from your problems. It helps you identify your positive traits and abilities so you can use them to cope with life’s challenges.

8. Creative Arts Therapies

Creative arts therapies include many different methods of expression such as visual art and music. Clients actively participate in creating or experiencing forms of art. There are many benefits to this alternative therapy, including stress relief, improved self-esteem, and improved self-expression. Examples include music therapy and art therapy.

9. Animal-Assisted Therapy

Therapy animals are often used in eating disorder treatment programs. Animal-assisted therapy taps into our connection to animals to provide stress relief, improved mood and self-esteem, and other psychological benefits. You may interact with many different types of animals, including horses (equine therapy).

10. Holistic Therapies

We see recovery as a multi-dimensional challenge that requires support for body, mind, and spirit. Holistic practitioners offer groups that introduce alternative/complementary healing modalities that address these dimensions. Many of the group topics address ways that clients can create an internal “safe space” from which to navigate the challenges of recovery. Clients have the opportunity to learn about and practice these during the groups. Holistic therapies may include trauma-sensitive yoga, meditation and mindfulness practices, acupuncture, reiki, and aromatherapy.

How to Help Someone with an Eating Disorder

If you think someone in your life has an eating disorder, your best bet is to support and encourage them to seek help from a healthcare professional. This can be extremely difficult for someone living with an eating disorder, but supporting them in other ways will help them feel cared for and encouraged in their recovery.

Recovering from an eating disorder can take a long time, and this person may have periods of relapsing into old behaviors, especially during times of stress. If you’re close to this person, it’s important to be there for them and be patient, throughout their recovery. Ways to support someone with an eating disorder include:

1. Listening to them. Taking time to listen to their thoughts can help them feel heard, respected, and supported. Even if you don’t agree with what they say, they must know you’re there for them and that they have someone to confide in.

2. Including them in activities. You can reach out and invite them to activities and social events or ask if they want to hang out one-on-one. Even if they do not want to be social, it’s important to check in and invite them to help them feel valued and less alone.

3. Trying to build their self-esteem. Make sure they know that they are valued and appreciated, especially for nonphysical reasons. Remind them why you are their friend and why they are valued.

How to Prevent Eating Disorders

There's no sure way to prevent eating disorders, but you can take steps to develop healthy eating habits. If you have a child, you can help your child lower the risk of developing eating disorders.

1. Adults

To develop healthy eating habits and lifestyle behaviors:

- Choose a healthy diet rich in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Limit salt, sugar, alcohol, saturated fat, and trans fats. Avoid extreme dieting. If you need to lose weight, talk to your healthcare provider or a dietitian to create a plan that meets your needs.

- Don't use dietary supplements, laxatives, or herbal products for weight loss.

- Get enough physical activity. Each week, get at least 150 minutes of aerobic activity, such as brisk walking. Choose activities that you enjoy, so you're more likely to do them.

- Seek help for mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, or issues with self-esteem and body image.

- Talk to a healthcare provider if you have concerns about your eating behaviors. Getting treatment early can prevent the problem from getting worse.

2. Children

Here are some ways to help your child develop healthy eating behaviors:

- Avoid dieting around your child. Family dining habits may influence the relationships children develop with food. Eating meals together allows you to teach your child about the pitfalls of dieting. It also allows you to see whether your child is eating enough food and enough variety.

- Talk to your child. There are many websites and other social media sites that promote dangerous ideas, such as viewing anorexia as a lifestyle choice rather than an eating disorder. Some sites encourage teens to start dieting. It's important to correct any wrong ideas like this. Talk to your child about the risks of making unhealthy eating choices.

- Encourage and reinforce a healthy body image in your child, whatever their shape or size. Talk to your child about self-image and offer reassurance that body shapes can vary. Don't criticize your own body in front of your child. Messages of acceptance and respect can help build healthy self-esteem. They also can build resilience or the ability to recover quickly from difficult events. These skills can help children get through the challenging times of the teen and young adult years.

- Ask your child's healthcare provider for help. At well-child visits, healthcare providers may be able to identify early signs of an eating disorder. They can ask children questions about their eating habits. These visits can include checks of height and weight percentiles and body mass index, which can alert you and your child's provider to any big changes.

How to Encourage Someone with an Eating Disorder to Seek Treatment

Many people with eating disorders may not think they need treatment. One of the main features of many eating disorders is not realizing how severe the symptoms are. Also, guilt and shame often prevent people from getting help. If you're worried about a friend or family member, urge the person to talk to a healthcare provider. Even if that person isn't ready to admit to having an issue with food, you can start the discussion by expressing concern and a desire to listen. Red flags that may suggest an eating disorder include:

1. Skipping meals or snacks or making excuses for not eating.

2. Having a very limited diet that hasn't been prescribed by a trained medical professional.

3. Too much focus on food or healthy eating, especially if it means not participating in usual events, such as sports banquets, eating birthday cake, or dining out.

4. Making own meals rather than eating what the family eats.

5. Withdrawing from usual social activities.

6. Frequent and ongoing worry or complaints about being unhealthy or overweight and talk of losing weight.

7. Frequent checking in the mirror for what are thought to be flaws.

8. Repeatedly eating large amounts of food.

9. Using dietary supplements, laxatives, or herbal products for weight loss.

10. Exercising much more than the average person. This includes not taking rest days or days off for injury or illness or refusing to attend social events or other life events because of wanting to exercise.

11. Calluses on the knuckles from reaching fingers into the mouth to cause vomiting.

12. Problems with loss of tooth enamel may be a sign of repeated vomiting.

13. Leaving during meals or right after a meal to use the toilet.

14. Talk of depression, disgust, shame, or guilt about eating habits.

15. Eating in secret.

If you're worried that you or your child may have an eating disorder, contact a healthcare provider to talk about your concerns. If needed, get a referral to a mental health provider with expertise in eating disorders. Or if your insurance permits it, contact an expert directly.

Professionals Who Treat Eating Disorders

The therapeutic team is usually a group of clinicians and professionals who can guide someone with an eating disorder through the treatment and recovery process. Because of the complex nature of eating disorders, treatment for an eating disorder can often mean working with several qualified practitioners. Some people will benefit from stand-alone therapies, which involve working with only one professional, while others will need a multidisciplinary approach with help from multiple professionals.

1. GPs and Local Doctors

A GP (General Practitioner) is a doctor who has general medical expertise. Although GPs may not be formally trained in distinguishing the presence of an eating disorder, they are a good ‘first base’ if you have concerns about yourself or someone you care for. GPs are an important part of the treatment and recovery process and anyone who experiences an eating disorder should have a GP that they can talk to and trust. Your GP can:

- Talk through the signs and symptoms of the eating disorder with you

- Provide you with additional information about the eating disorder

- Refer you to an eating disorder specialist for further help, diagnosis, and treatment

2. Pediatricians

A Pediatrician is a doctor who has medical expertise with infants, children, and adolescents. They are often involved in the treatment of children and adolescents suffering from eating disorders. Pediatricians can:

- Speak to children and adolescents at their level

- Talk to you as a carer or parent and help you understand what is happening to your child or loved one

- Decide on treatment or refer you to another specialist who will be able to help you

3. Psychologists

Psychologists are commonly involved in the treatment of eating disorders. They can provide counseling and education for people with eating disorders using a variety of approaches. Psychologists will generally:

- Conduct assessments to diagnose mental illnesses or conditions

- Develop treatment plans that specifically address mental and emotional issues associated with the eating disorders (e.g. body image or weight issues)

- Provide counseling for other problems not directly related to the eating disorder (e.g. family situations, social problems)

- All psychologists should be tertiary qualified; in addition, clinical psychologists need to have completed postgraduate training to gain expertise in treating mental illnesses.

4. Psychiatrists

A psychiatrist is a medical practitioner who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. Psychiatrists can:

- Assess someone with an eating disorder to diagnose various disorders

- Develop treatment plans that help to treat the disorder

- Prescribe medication and monitor how the medication is working

All psychiatrists will have completed medical training and additional supervised psychiatric practice.

5. Dietitians

A dietitian is a tertiary qualified expert on food and nutrition. Dieticians play a common role in the treatment of eating disorders. A dietitian may be necessary if someone with an eating disorder requires guidance and planning to address their abnormal eating behaviors. A dietitian can:

- Translate scientific information into practical advice surrounding food and healthy eating

- Prescribe dietary treatments for people suffering from eating disorders

- Teach people with eating disorders how to eat and how to buy appropriate foods (e.g. in a supermarket)

- Work in private practices and hospitals

- Provide medical nutrition therapy services

6. Nutritionists

A nutritionist is a tertiary qualified professional who can provide general support to people with eating disorders through nutrition education and community health. Nutritionists can:

- Offer general advice to people with eating disorders

- Provide basic advice on nutrition, eating plans, and motivations for eating well

- Address fears and concerns about food and weight

7. Social Workers

A social worker is often involved with treatment if the person presents with behavioral, social, or mental health issues in addition to an eating disorder. Social workers are tertiary qualified and can provide individual, couple, and family counselling for people with eating disorders and their carers as well as case management and referrals or resources. They often facilitate support groups and provide links to other community resources. Social workers can be found in hospitals and health services, government programs, and community organizations.

8. Occupational Therapists & Rehabilitation Therapists

Occupational therapists and rehabilitation therapists help someone with an eating disorder to develop, practice, and implement the life skills they require to address their disordered eating behavior. Occupational therapists may work with someone suffering from an eating disorder throughout the treatment process, to help the patient effectively manage and normalize their eating patterns. Occupational therapists can also help someone with an eating disorder develop other relevant life skills that will allow them to function in their everyday lives and perform everyday activities.

9. Nurses & Mental Health Nurses

Nurses and mental health nurses form an important part of the multidisciplinary treatment team. Their role is to provide practical medical and mental health care for someone with an eating disorder while that person is hospitalized or gaining treatment via the health system. If a person with an eating disorder is admitted to a hospital or a similar community setting, either as part of an outpatient or inpatient program, nurses and mental health nurses will become involved in the treatment of that patient and their eating disorder daily. Medical and mental health nurses will often conduct medical or mental health assessments, administer any medications, and provide treatment as well as interact with a person with an eating disorder to coordinate the level of care required.

Sources:

NIH

Mayo Clinic

Healthline

Cleveland Clinic

Zaya Care

Within Health

Seeds of Hope

EDCMT

Walden Eating Disorders

Nutrition

Eating Disorder Hope

Kristen Watt Foundation

Change Creates Change

Kids Health

Emily Program

ED Referral

Equip Health