Eating Disorders Treatment
Eating disorders can have a devastating impact on the physical, mental, and spiritual health of those who suffer from them. Eating disorders can be some of the most challenging disorders to treat for a number of reasons. Young women with eating disorders tend to be highly resistant to change, and denial about their appearance and health helps fuel their continued destructive behavior. The main types of eating disorders are anorexia, bulimia, and compulsive eating. Within those types of eating disorders there are a number of variants, such as orthorexia (compulsive exercising) and pregorexia (anorexia during pregnancy).
There are different levels of eating disorder treatment. Because some sufferings of these disorders are in extremely poor health, hospitalization may be necessary. In the case of patients with very low BMI, where heart failture or other organ failure is a risk factor, they will need acute hospitalization to bring up fluids and weight to a safe level. Once the patient is medically stabilized and begins therapy, they can often move to a more comfortable treatment center outside of a hospital setting.
For those who are stabilized, at a safe BMI level, and who are not actively purging each day or otherwise putting themselves at high risk, there are a number of excellent eating disorders treatment centers that focus on therapy to identify underlying causes and issues, specialized treatments to work through resistance (equine therapy has been shown to be highly effective with young women with eating disorders), and develop real-life skills for meal planning, preparing, and cooking of food. It is critical that those with eating disorders learn how to plan and execute a healthy meal plan when they return home.
For example, at The Ranch’s eating disorder treatment program outside Nashville, they believe that to effectively treat eating disorders, clients must be exposed to foods – even those that they fear, avoid or binge on. Their meal plans are designed by a licensed nutritionist to ensure a healthy balance of nutrients. After eating, clients discuss their feelings and keep track of their intake and accompanying motions.
Eating Disorder Treatment Articles
The Emotional Aspects of Eating Disorders
Many strategies for treating eating disorders center on therapy to focus on the negative emotions that are beneath the surface of the disordered eating behaviors. Therapy is often successful in teaching individuals with eating disorders to recognize the feelings that trigger the behaviors associated with their diagnosis.
Inconsistencies in Eating Disorder Treatment
Treatment programs for eating disorders are just as varied as the disorders themselves. Programs often involve cognitive behavioral therapy, but many also incorporate artistic expression as part of the recovery process
Anti-Psychotic Drugs May Help Treat Anorexia
It helps decrease the level of anxiety about potentially gaining weight if food is consumed, but it does not guarantee a recovery. Doctors who have tried the method, however, say that before trying Zyprexa, it was almost impossible to help patients gain weight outside of the hospital.
Forced Treatment for Eating Disorders May Be Positive After All
Research shows that the involuntary patients were similar in every aspect to patients admitted by choice. The only differences were the original circumstances surrounding the admission, specifically the willingness to be treated.
