What Treatment Should I Be Offered
You can check what treatment and care is recommended for eating disorders on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence website. NICE produce guidelines for how health professionals should treat certain conditions. You can download these from their website at www.nice.org.uk But the NHS does not have to follow these recommendations. They should have a good reason for not following them.
Medication should not be offered as the only treatment for any eating disorder.
Physical treatments like acupuncture, weight training and yoga should not be offered as treatment for eating disorders.
There are different types of psychological treatments for eating disorders, and you may be offered a combination of these. All of the treatments will include guided self-help and psycho-education.
Guided self-help programmeThis is a self-help programme. You will look at the thoughts, feelings and actions that you have in relation to your eating. You should also have some short support sessions to help you follow the programme.
Psycho-educationPsycho-education means that you will learn about your symptoms and how to manage them.
What is the treatment for anorexia?
When treating anorexia, a key goal is for you to reach a healthy weight. Your weight will be monitored. Doctors may share your weight with your family members or carers.
The therapy aims to help you to:
The therapy:
FPT looks at:
What is the treatment for bulimia?
What is the treatment for binge eating disorder
Are Teenagers Affected By Eating Disorders
Teenagers can be especially susceptible to eating disorders because of hormonal changes during puberty and social pressure to look attractive or thin. These changes are normal, and your teenager may only practice unhealthy eating habits every once in a while.
But if your teenager begins to obsess over their weight, appearance, or diet, or starts consistently eating too much or too little, they may be developing an eating disorder. Abnormal weight loss or weight gain may also be a sign of an eating disorder, especially if your teenager frequently makes negative comments about their body or perceived size.
If you suspect your teenager has an eating disorder, be open and honest about your concerns. If theyre comfortable talking with you, be understanding and listen to their concerns. Also have them see a doctor, counselor, or therapist to address the social or emotional issues that may be causing their disorder.
Research also suggests that men with eating disorders are underdiagnosed and undertreated. Theyre less likely to be diagnosed with an eating disorder, even when they exhibit similar symptoms as a woman.
Research suggests that many young men with eating disorders dont seek treatment because they consider them stereotypically female disorders.
What If I Have An Eating Disorder
If you think you may have an eating disorder:
Tell someone. Tell a parent, teacher, counselor, or an adult you trust. Let them know what you’re going through. Ask them to help.
Get help early. When an eating disorder is caught early, a person has a better chance of recovery. Make an appointment with your doctor or an eating disorders specialist.
Go to all appointments. Treatment takes time and effort. Work hard to learn about yourself and your emotions. Ask questions any time you have them.
Be patient with yourself. There’s so much to learn, and change happens a little at a time. Take care of yourself and be with people who support you.
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What Can I Do To Manage My Symptoms
You can learn to manage your symptoms through self-care. Self-care is how you manage your daily routine, relationships and feelings. The healthcare professional who is working with you should give you advice about self-care.
The following website links have information about how you can deal with symptoms of anorexia, bulimia and BED.
- Anorexia Self-Help
Body Mass Index And Diagnosis
In your assessment, your BMI should not be the only factor your GP or hospital doctor takes into account.
Unfortunately, diagnosis and treatment for an eating disorder can be related to your weight. You could have a serious problem with eating, but without meeting the criteria for diagnosis. This can feel very frustrating.
However, you should not need an eating disorder diagnosis to get treatment for an eating problem.
Usually, your recommended treatment will be for the disorder most similar to your eating problem.
See our page on treatment and support for more details.
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How Is Bed Diagnosed
While some people may occasionally overeat, such as at Thanksgiving or a party, it does not mean they have BED, despite having experienced some of the symptoms listed above.
BED typically starts in the late teens to early twenties, although it can occur at any age. People generally need support to help overcome BED and develop a healthy relationship with food. If left untreated, BED can last for many years .
To be diagnosed, a person must have had at least one binge eating episode per week for a minimum of three months .
The severity ranges from mild, which is characterized by one to three binge eating episodes per week, to extreme, which is characterized by 14 or more episodes per week .
Another important characteristic is not taking action to undo a binge. This means that, unlike bulimia, a person with BED does not throw up, take laxatives, or over-exercise to try and counteract a binging episode.
Like other eating disorders, its more common in women than men. However, its more common among men than other types of eating disorders (
Although these health risks are significant, there are a number of effective treatments for BED.
Summary
BED is linked to an increased risk of weight gain and obesity, as well as associated diseases like diabetes and heart disease. There are also other health risks, including sleep problems, chronic pain, mental health problems, and reduced quality of life.
Look For Signs And Symptoms
A number of eating disorders are currently recognized by psychologists, with the three most common being anorexia nervosa, bulimia and binge-eating. They manifest in different ways, meaning their signs are also different from each other.
- Signs of anorexia nervosa
- Severely below a healthy weight without believing themselves to be underweight
- Habits like calorie counting, highly restrictive/limited food intake, induced vomiting after eating, laxative or diuretic abuse or excessive exercise
- Body image is determined by ones shape and weight
- An obsession with being thin and losing weight even if theyre already below a healthy weight
- Signs of bulimia;
- Recurring binging episodes where one feels little control/unable to stop eating until painfully full, followed by unhealthy purging behaviors to prevent weight gain
- Fear of gaining weight
- Self-esteem is dependent on body image
- Signs of binge eating disorder
- Eating large amounts of food until painfully full, regardless of actual hunger
- Lacking control over binging, but feeling corresponding guilt, shame or disgust in regards to the behavior of binge eating
- Not following the act of binge eating with some form of purging behavior, thereby leading to obesity;
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Eating Disorder Treatment: Can Eating Disorder Be Cured
Eating disorder is a treatable illness.
The treatment of an eating disorder typically emphasizes the importance of normalizing all eating behavior, such as eating three meals and a snack or two daily in order to normalize hunger cues.
It also aims to create a structure that helps limit time spent thinking about food and eating and decreases the risk of binge eating.
What Causes Eating Disorders
We do not know exactly why someone develops an eating disorder. Some people believe that eating disorders develop because of social pressures to be thin. Social pressures could be social media and fashion magazines. Others believe it is a way to feel in control.
Most specialists believe that eating disorders develop because of a mix of psychological, environmental and genetic factors. Psychological factors could be:
- being vulnerable to depression and anxiety,
- finding stress hard to handle,
- worrying a lot about the future,
- being a perfectionist,
- having obsessive or compulsive feelings, or
- a fear of being fat.
Environmental factors could be:
- criticised for your body shape or eating habits,
- having difficult family relationships, or
- having a job or hobby where being thin is seen as ideal. Such as dancing or athletics.
Genetic factors could be:
- changes in the brain or hormone levels, or
- family history of eating disorders, depression or substance misuse.
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Can You Cure An Eating Disorder
Theres a lot of debate around eating disorder treatment and whether or not eating disorders can be cured.
Some believe that people always have eating disorders and they simply learn to live with and manage them. Others believe that eating disorders can be cured completely.
In many cases, its up to the individual to decide how they want to view themselves and their recovery. Some find it empowering to say that theyve fully recovered, whereas others find it more realistic to say that theyre in recovery or are recovering.
This Psych Nurses Belief Shows Why We Need To Destroy Eating Disorder Stigma
As eating disorders are talked about more and more, people assume that the stigma around the illness no longer exists. It would be amazing if it didnt, but its something that people who struggle with eating disorders have to suffer through every single day.
First, I want to talk about the experience that inspired me to write this article. Im writing this from a lumpy mattress, with sheets you can barely call blankets and walls with plaster covering where holes once were a psych ward. While I am here for issues unrelated to my eating disorder, it doesnt mean that I am not still very much struggling with it. Without mentioning unneeded triggering details, its something that I thought my nurse was aware of due to behaviors that have been happening. I was very, very wrong. He spent the whole day trying to get me to eat and I finally had gotten myself to choke down the Boost meal replacement that those who have this illness know and love . I asked for my as-needed medication because I was very anxious about it, which understandingly prompted my nurse to ask why. I listed my eating disorder among the reasons why I was anxious about having it. His response was that I cant have an eating disorder and its a past diagnosis because I had the Boost. He was surprised when I told him that it is still a very much current diagnosis and that Im actually going to treatment for it soon.
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Practice Healthier Ways To Manage Your Difficult Emotions
An eating disorder is often used as a way to numb difficult emotions.
However, the relief is short-lived and usually can make the person with an eating disorder feeling worse.
Healthier ways to deal with difficult emotions involve:
1. Validation
Validating your emotions doesnt mean that you like them or that you cant do anything to change them.
It simply means that youre not fighting these unpleasant emotions or adding more pain by feeling bad about having these emotions.
For example, if you feel anxious, simply acknowledge the feeling, without judgment. There is nothing wrong with you for feeling a certain emotion.
To validate your emotions, you can say something like, Sadness is a natural emotion. Something triggered this emotion and I have every right to feel it. There is nothing wrong with me for feeling that way.
2. Increase Positive Emotions
Incorporating pleasurable and self-care activities into your daily routine can help you build resilience and be better prepared when facing difficult emotions.
These activities may include:
Signs Of Anorexia Nervosa
People with anorexia nervosa have an extreme fear of gaining weight. They often diet and exercise relentlessly, sometimes to the point of starvation. About one-third to one-half of anorexics also binge and purge by vomiting or misusing laxatives. People with anorexia have a distorted body image, thinking they are overweight when in fact they are underweight. They may count calories obsessively and only allow themselves tiny portions of certain specific foods. When confronted, someone with anorexia will often deny that thereâs a problem.
The signs of anorexia can be subtle at first, because it develops gradually. It may begin as an interest in dieting before an event like a school dance or a beach vacation. But as the disorder takes hold, preoccupation with weight intensifies. It creates a vicious cycle: The more weight the person loses, the more that person worries and obsesses about weight.
The following symptoms and behaviors are common in people with anorexia:
- Dramatic weight loss
- Complaining about constipation or stomach pain
- Denying that extreme thinness is a problem
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Are You An Emotional Eater
Of course, we cant only blame the food for making us eat past the point of fullness; we obviously play a role ourselves. Some folks are particularly likely to overeat when upset. How many movies have you watched where a heartbroken hero polishes off a whole pint of ice creamor an entire pizzaafter a painful breakup?
We use certain foods to comfort ourselves, to self-soothe. Therapists call this emotional eating. Most of the rest of us call it comfort food.;
Often, people are concerned about emotional eating from a weight-gain perspective. But marriage and family therapistSigne Darpinian, whos a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist and President of the Bay Area chapter of the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals , is more concerned about the emotional aspect. She notes we do emotional eating to avoid feeling certain emotions, or to avoid dealing with our feelings.;
Emotional eating is problematic because it blocks the emotion. Over time, it can lead to depression, she says. Everything you sweep under the rug will still be sitting there, waiting for you on your next bad day.”;
Supporting A Loved Ones Recovery
Recovering from an eating disorder takes time. There are no quick fixes or miracle cures, so its important to have patience and compassion. Dont put unnecessary pressure on your loved one by setting unrealistic goals or demanding progress on your own timetable. Provide hope and encouragement, praise each small step forward, and stay positive through struggles and setbacks.
Learn about eating disorders. The more you know, the better equipped youll be to help your loved one, avoid pitfalls, and cope with challenges.
Listen without judgment. Show that you care by asking about your loved ones feelings and concernsand then truly listening. Resist the urge to advise or criticize. Simply let your friend or family member know that theyre being heard. Even if you dont understand what theyre going through, its important to validate your loved ones feelings.
Be mindful of triggers. Avoid discussions about food, weight, eating or making negative statements about your own body. But dont be afraid to eat normally in front of someone with an eating disorder. It can help set an example of a healthy relationship with food.
Get more help
Almost Anorexic Is My Relationship with Food a Problem?
The Parent Toolkit ; Advice for parents of children with eating disorders.
Eating Disorders Causes, effects, warning signs, and treatment of eating disorders in kids and teens.
Treatment Tips on eating disorder treatment.
Hotlines and support
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Types Of Eating Disorders: What Eating Disorder Do I Have
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , a publication of the American Psychiatric Association , describes the signs and symptoms of eating disorders.
The DSM-5, the fifth and current edition published in 2013, list the following eating disorders:
- Anorexia nervosa,
- Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder ,
- Pica,
- other specified feeding and eating disorders .
What Other Conditions Resemble Eating Disorders
This is another reason why you need a professional evaluation.
Other illnesses that affect eating behaviors and /or weight could resemble eating disorders such as cancer, HIV, hyperthyroidism.
Hormone disturbances such as Cushings disease or insulin-dependent diabetes, lead to increased appetite which may resemble binge-eating disorder.
Other problems may present similar symptoms to those of eating disorders. For example, someone with social anxiety disorder may avoid all social occasions because they fear interaction with others.
What other conditions may occur together with eating disorders?
Depression and anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric disorders that can occur together with eating disorders.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder and substance use disorders can also co-occur with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa.
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What Forms Of Treatment Are Effective For Bulimia Nervosa
Most uncomplicated cases of bulimia nervosa can be treated on an outpatient basis although inpatient treatment is occasionally indicated. The best psychological treatment is cognitive-behavioral therapy, which involves self-monitoring of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to the eating disorder. Therapy is focused on normalizing eating behavior and identifying environmental triggers and irrational thoughts or feeling states that precipitate bingeing or purging. Patients are taught to challenge irrational beliefs about weight and self-esteem. Several medications have also been shown to be effective in decreasing bingeing and purging behaviors in bulimia.
Classification Of Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are classified into different types, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Fifth Edition. Classifications are made based on the presenting symptoms and how often these occur, and include:
- Binge eating disorder
- Other specified feeding or eating disorders
- Bulimia nervosa;
- Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder
- Unspecified feeding or eating disorder
- Pica
- Rumination disorder
;References
1.Galmiche M, Déchelotte P, Lambert G, Tavolacci MP. Prevalence of eating disorders over the 20002018 period: a systematic literature review. Am J Clin Nutr. 2019;109:1402-13.2. Preti A, Rocchi MBL, Sisti D, Camboni M, Miotto P. A comprehensive metaanalysis of the risk of suicide in eating disorders. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2011;124:6-17.3. Arcelus J, Mitchell AJ, Wales J, Nielsen S. Mortality rates in patients with anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders: a meta-analysis of 36 studies. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2011;68:724-31.
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