Eating Disorders And Professional Help: Understanding Eating Disorder Treatment

Eating disorders can have negative effects on health and daily life, and understanding all of the available treatment options may not always be straightforward. Read on to learn more about eating disorders and professional help, from therapy to medications, nutrition counseling, and more.

Understanding eating disorders

In general, having an eating disorder is not the same as occasionally eating too much or not eating enough healthy foods. Eating disorders can be described as patterns of unhealthy food-related beliefs, thoughts, and behaviors that cause significant problems in daily life. 

People may develop eating disorders for various reasons, such as a desire to be thin, peer pressure, or trouble coping with emotions and stress. Researchers have found that biology, environment, and genetics may also play roles in the development of eating disorders. However, no matter the cause, eating disorders can negatively impact emotional, physical, and mental health.

Common types of eating disorders

Before exploring eating disorder treatment, it may be helpful to explore what specific eating disorders can look like. In this section, we’ll look at a few of the most common eating disorders and their symptoms. 

Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a condition usually involving a severely limited food intake. People with anorexia tend to obsess over being thin, to the point where they may see themselves as overweight even if they are at a low or unhealthy body weight. People with anorexia may also:

• Eat little to nothing at all
• Develop rituals around food
• Exercise excessively to burn calories
• Lie about how much food they’ve eaten
• Avoid social situations that involve food

Bulimia nervosa

Like anorexia, bulimia nervosa also typically involves an obsession over body weight or shape. However, rather than avoiding food altogether, people with bulimia may practice binge eating—eating excessive amounts of food at one time—followed by attempts to eliminate the food they’ve eaten to avoid gaining weight. These behaviors are called “purging” and may include the following:

• Vomiting
• Misusing laxatives or diuretics
• Exercising excessively
• Fasting for long periods
• Using diet pills

Binge eating disorder

Binge eating disorder, or BED, also involves binge eating. However, people with binge eating disorder don’t normally try to purge the calories they’ve eaten after a binge. To be diagnosed with binge eating disorder, a person generally must binge at least once a week for three months or more. Binge eating disorder may involve the following symptoms:

• Binging in secret
• Feeling guilty or ashamed after a binge
• Sensing they have no control over their eating behaviors

The effects of disordered eating: Physical and mental health symptoms

The unhealthy habits associated with eating disorders can have short- and long-term consequences. While having an unhealthy body weight might be the first that comes to mind, the effects of eating disorders can also extend into other areas of physical health. Some examples of these health impacts include those listed below:

• Malnutrition
• Electrolyte imbalances
• High blood pressure
• Tooth decay
• Dry hair and skin
• Nausea
• Weakness, fatigue, or shortness of breath
• High blood sugar or cholesterol
• Low sex drive
• Organ failure

Healing your relationship with food: Treatment options for eating disorders

Eating disorders can have significant impacts, but research shows that recovery is often possible with proper treatment. In a study published in 2021, researchers followed a group of patients being treated for eating disorders for over 20 years. By the 22-year follow-up, over two-thirds had recovered. 

Eating disorder treatment often involves a team of specialists, each playing a different role in the recovery process. Depending on the disorder and your situation, your care team may want to run tests to rule out conditions like kidney or heart problems. You may also be asked to undergo medical treatment for any serious medical concerns. 

Beyond treating the medical effects of the disorder, treatment goals typically include getting to a healthy weight and adopting healthier food-related thoughts and behaviors. Let’s take a closer look at what this process can involve. 

Medication

Studies have found that certain mental health challenges tend to be associated with eating disorders. In a 2023 analysis, researchers looked at data from 18 existing studies. They found that conditions like social anxiety disorder, depression, ADHD, and OCD tended to be more common in people with eating disorders. For this reason, you may be prescribed mental health medications as part of your treatment plan. In addition, there are some prescription medications FDA approved for certain eating disorders. Never start, stop, or change any medications without first consulting your doctor.

Food and nutrition counseling

Nutrition counseling, usually facilitated by a registered dietician, generally aims to help individuals understand their nutritional needs and develop healthier eating habits. This process may involve creating a customized eating plan to help you get back to a healthy body weight and monitoring your food choices to make sure you’re on the right track. 

Does a mental health professional provide food and nutrition counseling?

Registered dieticians may be part of your treatment team, but they are not typically mental health professionals. While some of these professionals may specialize in helping people with eating disorders (and may work closely with psychologists and psychiatrists), they do not usually provide mental health-specific treatment. Similarly, mental health professionals may not be qualified to advise you on diet and eating habits. This is an example of why a full care team is often needed to treat eating disorders. 

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and more: Therapy for eating disorders

Medication and nutrition counseling may form the foundation of eating disorder recovery. However, to make these changes sustainable and avoid relapse, you may also need to tackle the underlying thoughts and feelings that led to disordered eating in the first place. For this reason, your treatment plan will likely also include talk therapy. Types of therapy that may be helpful for people with eating disorders include those discussed below.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

The idea behind cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is generally that unhelpful thoughts and beliefs may contribute to unwanted behaviors and mental distress. By identifying and changing the thinking patterns behind their disordered eating, individuals may be able to develop better habits, learn healthier ways to cope with stress, and reduce unhealthy behaviors.

Family-based therapy (FBT)

Family-based therapy (FBT), which is often used to treat adolescents with eating disorders, normally involves parents in their child’s recovery process. FBT typically focuses less on finding the root cause of the disorder and more on taking practical steps toward healing. Treatment usually takes place in three stages, with the child gradually being given more control over their eating choices. 

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and commitment therapy, or ACT, is primarily based on the idea that mental illnesses may be caused by unhealthy attempts to escape from unwanted thoughts and feelings. ACT usually aims to help individuals identify healthier coping strategies by focusing on their long-term goals and values. ACT may be helpful for people who use their eating habits as a coping mechanism. 

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)

Dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT, was originally developed to treat borderline personality disorder. The goal of DBT is generally to help people learn to become aware of their emotions, manage their feelings, and cope with distress in healthy ways. Because people with eating disorders may struggle to manage their emotions, DBT may be a useful treatment. 

Getting help and working with a mental health professional

If you’re experiencing distressing thoughts, feelings, or behaviors related to eating, you may want to talk to a counselor or your healthcare provider. Disordered eating is often treatable, but recovery tends to be a complex process. Getting advice from a professional may help you find a treatment plan that’s right for you. 

For people who seek treatment for eating disorders, therapy can sometimes seem intimidating. Talking to a therapist about your eating habits, thoughts, and feelings can be highly personal, which is why it may help to have a therapist with whom you feel comfortable. Finding the right fit may be easier with online therapy, which can match you with a mental health professional based on your unique needs. You can also change providers at any time, for any reason, for no extra cost. 

Evidence shows that online therapy can be an effective way to treat eating disorders. In a 2022 study, 41 people who had been diagnosed with either binge eating disorder or bulimia received cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) over the internet. Participants in the online therapy program typically saw significant improvements in their symptoms and daily function.