Eating disorder care, treated personally

More than 28 million Americans, or roughly 9% of the population, will experience an eating disorder at some point in their lifetime. In this article, you’ll learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of anorexia nervosa and how to find treatment for yourself or someone you love.

Ketoacidosis, or ketosis, is a metabolic state where the body has high concentrations of ketones (a type of water soluble molecule) in the blood serum and urine. When normal biological processes which regulate the amount of ketones in the body fail, this can result in a life-threatening condition called ketoacidosis.

Once you have been through treatment for anorexia nervosa (AN), it’s so important to continue working towards recovery long after your last day of treatment at a higher level of care. It’s also important to support your own self-care throughout treatment, so you can heal in the best way possible.

When examining anorexia statistics, or eating disorder rates in general, the results can be alarming. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, more than 30 million Americans will struggle with an eating disorder at some point in their lifetime.

Brain fog is considered to be a temporary mild cognitive impairment and sometimes thought of as an exaggerated mental fatigue.

Cachexia is a very serious, complex condition that occurs with anorexia nervosa (AN) and other disorders. Also called a “wasting disorder,” cachexia involves body mass loss, muscle loss, extreme fatigue, weakness, and lack of appetite.

Most people experience constipation at some point. This can happen for many reasons, such as not getting enough fiber in your diet, dehydration, lack of physical activity, or not eating enough food.

Gastroparesis (literally meaning “stomach paralysis) is a condition that affects the movement and muscles involved in emptying the stomach and moving food onward down the digestive tract.

Research highlights the increased prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in those suffering from an eating disorder, like anorexia nervosa (AN).

Individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) live with an intense fear of gaining weight, and they excessively restrict calories, which may lead to extreme weight loss.

Those who struggle with anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) often develop kidney diseases due to the toll restricting, binging, and purging take on the body. Some of these conditions can be very serious, but most are fully treatable.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious eating disorder that affects both the mind and the body. People with anorexia nervosa often have pain throughout the body, including bone and joint pain and muscle and backaches. 

One body system, among others, that anorexia nervosa (AN) impacts is the integumentary system. It is the largest organ system of the body and comprises the skin, hair, and nails.

Art therapy is a form of experiential therapy used to treat eating disorders that incorporates elements of the visual arts with cognitive counseling.

While atypical anorexia nervosa (AAN) may share characteristics of anorexia nervosa (AN), it is an entirely different diagnosis found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Atypical anorexia nervosa is categorized in the DSM-5 as an Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSED).

Atypical bulimia nervosa (ABN) is a form of bulimia nervosa (BN) that affects individuals differently. 

Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, or ARFID, is an eating disorder that involves consuming less food than what is needed for proper body health, maintenance, and development.

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder in the United States, with more cases than anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa combined. BED is a debilitating disorder that disrupts a person’s quality of life in a way that may cause them to isolate themselves from others. These feelings will lead to more episodes of bingeing, continuing the cycle.

Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder in the United States, affecting nearly 2.8 million people. This number does not include people living with BED of low frequency and/or limited duration. Binge Eating Disorder of Low Frequency and/or Duration is a condition that meets the criteria for BED, but with binges that occur fewer than once a week and for fewer than three months.

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a serious condition that involves a preoccupation with physical appearance. With proper treatment, however, a full recovery is possible.

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder that affects between 0.5% and 1.5% of people throughout their lifetime. However, the actual lifetime prevalence is not known due to the secrecy and shame that can lead a person to avoid seeking help for their condition. While eating disorders can be life-threatening, they are treatable, and a full recovery is possible when effective treatment is provided. In fact, nearly 74% of patients who seek treatment for bulimia nervosa fully recover from the condition.

Although bulimia nervosa (BN) is an insidious disease, usually characterized by secretive behavior to mask the disorder, there are some telltale signs that others can watch for when concerned about someone close to them.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious, and, unfortunately, sometimes deadly disorder. But as dire as that sounds, there is hope: it is possible to recover from anorexia nervosa.

Some diseases are more likely to lead to cancer than others. For example, alcoholism can cause cancers in the gastrointestinal (GI) system, and papillomavirus infections can cause genital cancers. Bulimia nervosa (BN) can cause certain types of cancer, too.

“Mild anorexia” is not currently a diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (DSM). However, anorexia nervosa (AN) is a complex eating disorder, and doctors may refer to symptoms as “mild” or “severe”.

Chew and Spit Disorder (CHSP) is a pattern of disordered eating that occurs when someone chews food but instead of swallowing, spits the food out. The drive to spit out the food is an attempt to get pleasure from eating without ingesting any calories.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychological treatment for eating disorders that involves talking with a trained mental health therapist.

Cognitive emotional behavioral therapy (CEBT) is a hybrid form of therapy used to treat eating disorders that borrows from CBT and DBT...

While emotional eating and compulsive "overeating" are behaviors that occasionally occur, frequent "overeating" episodes may be a sign of disordered eating. Although the term "overeating" may be a term used, very often clinicians find that "overeating" may also be associated with patterns of undereating, guilt and shame around food, weight, and body, and other manifestations of struggles around self-care.

Diabulimia is an eating disorder that people with Type 1 diabetes exhibit by lowering their medically prescribed insulin. Those who struggle with diabulimia may do so in secret due to fear of being judged or misunderstood.

Dialectical behavior therapy can effectively treat eating disorders by teaching patients to accept themselves, while simultaneously changing harmful behaviors.

If you’ve been struggling with your eating habits lately, and especially if you’ve been binging or purging, you might be asking yourself, “do I have bulimia?”.

Eating disorders are common in the LGBTQIA+ community. Research has consistently shown that LGBTQIA+ adults and adolescents are more likely to experience eating disorders than their cisgender and/or heterosexual peers. While the cause of eating disorders remains elusive, strong evidence suggests that genetic, environmental, and cultural influences are involved. For LGBTQIA+ individuals, there are additional factors to consider when selecting treatment options.

Many athletes believe disordered eating behaviors will enhance their athletic performance. However, evidence shows that eating disorders both inhibit performance and increase the risks of injury.

Eating disorders among children are very serious, and can be potentially life-threatening. When left untreated, eating disorders have the potential to take a major toll on a child's life and can have long-term effects.

Eating disorders occur among all ages, genders, ethnicities, and demographics. However, elderly patients with eating disorders often get disregarded because many people believe the condition only affects younger people.

C-suite jobs are highly demanding. CEOs and other executives have a lot on their shoulders, from striving to meet their companies’ bottom lines and taking care of their employees to working on ever-tighter deadlines. Unfortunately, all that stress can take a toll on one’s mental and physical health. Eating disorders, and disordered eating, are not uncommon among the executive demographic.

Eating disorders can be very distressing for teen boys, and may have detrimental effects on their health and wellbeing. These disorders, when left untreated, can have serious health repercussions and lead to early bone loss, developmental delays, organ damage, malnutrition, or even death.

Men are affected by eating disorders like any other gender. Millions of men struggle with disordered eating, and the sad reality is that deep shame persists due to the misconception that eating disorders primarily impact women and girls. The truth is that in the United States, at least 10 million men are struggling with an eating disorder presently.

Non-binary people struggle with eating disorders, just like every other gender. When a person has an eating disorder, they may feel alone, as though no one understands the pressures they feel to look a certain way. This can be felt even more deeply for non-binary people who may not feel like there is a program accepting of their gender, as most are based in the binary of male or female programs. In addition, access to specialized care has not yet been prioritized within the eating disorder field.

Eating disorders are serious conditions that can affect anyone at any age. However, teen girls are often more susceptible to these conditions due to bullying, weight shaming, and the mainstream media’s idealization of thinness in women. The risk of developing an eating disorder as a teen girl has increased in recent years due to the pressures of social media, and the stressors of the pandemic.

Transgender people struggle with eating disorders as well as have to deal with additional barriers to treatment their cisgender peers do not, such as women-only or men-only programs that may not have trans-inclusive care options.

Women are statistically the most affected demographic when it comes to eating disorders. It is estimated that over 20 million women in the United States will experience disordered eating in their lives, which can lead to serious physical, and physiological side effects if left untreated.

Eating disorders are among the most dangerous—and deadly—diagnoses in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Even if they don’t directly lead to death, eating disorders like bulimia nervosa (BN) can cause many health problems for people struggling with them. 

The Maudsley family-based treatment approach was developed by psychiatrists and psychologists at the Maudsley Hospital in London as a treatment cure for anorexia nervosa (AN).

Yes, there is such a thing as too much exercise. As important as moving our bodies is, eating, rest, and recovery are equally important. At Within Health we prefer to think of moving your body and using your body, and we prefer to use terms that promote finding joy in movement and compassion for one’s body.

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder that affects about three percent of women and one percent of men, and most are diagnosed between the ages of fifteen and twenty-nine, according to available data. Unfortunately, research also shows the mortality rate for bulimia is high.

Exposure therapy is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) originally developed to help treat anxiety. In the eating disorder space, exposure therapy helps to reduce anxiety around food, eating, exercise, and the body, in order to overcome disordered eating habits.

Family-based therapy (FBT) is a type of group therapy used in the treatment of eating disorders that involves members of a family or household, including spouses, children, parents, siblings, and even close friends.

Food maintenance syndrome is an eating disorder common in children in foster care. It is believed to develop from previous stressors and neglect. Compared to other eating disorders, little is known about the condition, so it can go undetected or be misdiagnosed.

Gourmand syndrome is a rare eating disorder affecting people with injuries to the right brain hemisphere. Discover the signs and symptoms of gourmand syndrome and explore treatment for those living with the condition.

Eating disorders affect everyone, with research estimating that nine percent of Americans will develop an eating disorder at some point in their lifetime.

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious eating disorder that can have numerous medical complications if left untreated. Perhaps one of the most alarming of these for the person suffering from the eating disorder is the appearance of blood after self-induced vomiting.

Those who struggle with anorexia nervosa (AN) severely restrict what they eat due to an intense fear of gaining weight and distorted perception of their bodies. Extreme caloric restriction can cause serious health complications, including affecting heart rates, and damaging the heart.

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious eating disorder, in which people engage in eating binges, then use compensatory behaviors to attempt to rid the body of excess calories afterward.

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious psychiatric disorder that involves frequent purging, which can be excessive exercising, taking laxatives or diuretics, or self-induced vomiting, to lose weight.

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder that involves frequent purging, by self induced vomiting, as a means to lose weight that can have life-threatening effects on the body.

The eyes, like any other organ, need proper nutrients to function. People living with anorexia nervosa (AN) typically don’t consume enough food to fully nourish their bodies. This malnutrition leads to physical changes and complications, including to the eyes and vision.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a disorder of undereating, and results in profound nutritional depletion. Weight loss and nutrient deficits affect every organ in the body.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious eating disorder that involves caloric restriction that can lead to significant physical and mental health problems and may include weight loss and/or a dangerously low body weight.

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder that affects many parts of the body, including the jaw. BN involves episodes of purging, often as self-induced vomiting, which puts stress on the jaw and can cause facial pain.

Exercise bulimia is similar to bulimia nervosa (BN), but, instead of purging to rid the body of ingested food, the individual overexercises to burn calories.

It can be incredibly difficult when someone you love is struggling with bulimia nervosa (BN). You may feel hopeless, like you’re stuck on the sidelines, watching as your loved one continues to battle their disorder.

Bulimia nervosa is a complex eating disorder that often comes with feelings of shame and guilt, so individuals often avoid seeking help. Eating disorders won’t go away on their own. But a full recovery from bulimia is possible when effective treatment is provided.

Night eating syndrome is characterized by recurrent episodes of night eating, defined as eating late at night either prior to bed or actually awakening at night to eat.

Emotional eating is eating in response to emotional cues, often to cope with or soothe difficult emotions, rather than in response to hunger.

Telling your loved ones, family, or parents that you have bulimia nervosa (BN) can be a terrifying thought. From how they’ll react to what happens next, there’s a lot to consider, and it may be easy to focus on the downsides.

Eating disorders, specifically anorexia nervosa (AN), are complex and serious psychiatric disorders. Those with AN are at five times higher risk of death than the general population. They are also 18 times more likely to die from suicide than the general population.

Inpatient care is the most intensive level of treatment for eating disorders that usually takes place in specialized hospital units or residential treatment facilities.

An intensive outpatient program (IOP) is typically for people with eating disorders who are stepping down from residential care or a partial hospitalization program (PHP), yet still need some structure and support.

For decades, many assumed anorexia nervosa (AN) was a psychosocial illness, meaning one primarily influenced by upbringing and environment.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is not a disease. A disease is when there is a harmful change in the structure or function of an organism.

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder that can lead to many medical complications, including hair loss. Hair loss can be a response to many different illnesses and life changes, and just because someone is experiencing hair loss does not mean they are living with BN.

You might have heard that it’s somehow harmful to eat late at night. Diet culture has promoted this viewpoint, suggesting that people should avoid eating after 7 pm if they want to achieve an ideal physique. Sometimes, experts will even argue that it’s not healthy to eat late in the evening.

Acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are medical conditions that often occur with bulimia nervosa (BN).

Kluver-Bucy syndrome is a rare disordered eating condition caused by an injury to the brain’s anterior temporal lobes. One of the markers for Kluver-Bucy syndrome is bulimia nervosa, a severe eating disorder where an individual experiences episodes of binge eating followed by purging.

Laxatives have been used for health purposes for over 2000 years. These days they are most commonly used in clinical practice for patients who struggle with poor gastrointestinal (GI) transit and chronic constipation.

Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is an evidence-based treatment option for eating disorders that is applied in clinical settings for disease management and requires a physician referral. MNT is more intensive than traditional nutrition therapy.

Night eating syndrome (NES) is a condition where a person eats more food at night than during the day. It is defined as an "Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder" (OSFED) by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders...

Nutrition counseling is a form of eating disorder treatment that is part of a comprehensive, multidisciplinary treatment plan.

Orthorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that manifests itself as an unhealthy obsession with healthy food.

Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) for eating disorders are structured day treatment programs that individuals attend several days a week for several hours as a step down from 24-hour inpatient hospitalization.

Prader-Willi syndrome is a complex genetic disorder that causes a range of physical and behavioral signs and symptoms that can resemble those of eating disorders. They include constant hunger, frequent eating, and over consumption and can have a significant effect on a person’s day-to-day life.

Pregorexia, or pregnancy-related eating disorders, are eating disorders that occur around pregnancy, childbirth, and parenthood. Pregorexia is one of the most misunderstood disorders and is often left underdiagnosed.

Psychoanalysis is a therapeutic practice that is sometimes used in the treatment of eating disorders. As with other eating disorder therapies, it is best to receive psychoanalysis in addition to getting support from a nutritionist.

Purging disorder is an eating disorder that involves purging to lose weight or change body shape, but no binging. It can be confused with bulimia nervosa (BN), because it has some of the same signs and symptoms.

Refeeding syndrome is a constellation of symptoms that can occur when an individual has been starving or malnourished for a long time and then too quickly re-introduces calories and a regular diet.

Rumination disorder, also referred to as rumination syndrome, is a rare and chronic condition that is characterized by an individual’s uncontrollable regurgitation after most meals.

Human resolve can be a formidable force in any endeavor. Recovering from an eating disorder is no different. Self-help can be a valuable resource in eating disorder treatment. Tapping into an individual’s innate strengths can build resilience and pave the way to lasting peace from disordered eating.