What are Eating Disorders:
Eating Disorders are life-altering and are caused by a combination of genetic, psychological, sociocultural, and physiological factors. Eating Disorders have severe and persistent disturbances in eating behaviors and are often associated with distressing thoughts and emotions surrounding food and body image.
Types of Eating Disorders
Anorexia Nervosa (AN): Eating Disorder with an intense fear of gaining weight or behavior that interferes with weight gain. Individuals with AN have a significantly low body weight and disturbance in the way one’s body type is experienced.
Bulimia Nervosa (BN): Eating Disorder characterized by regular episodes of overeating followed by vomiting or purging influenced by body shape/weight.
Binge Eating Disorder (BED): BED is the most common, and least talked about ED. Eating Disorder is characterized by frequent and recurrent binge eating episodes with negative psychological and social problems, but without any compensatory behaviors such as purging.
Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): Eating Disorder characterized by a lack of interest or avoidance of food based on sensory which leads to significant weight loss or nutritional deficiency, or interference with psychosocial functioning. This ED is not caused by a distorted self-image or a desire to change weight.
What does an eating disorder look like?
Eating Disorders can look like: Preoccupation with food, Skipping meals, Feeling out of control with food, Picky or selective eating, Experiencing guilt or shame after eating, Body image concerns, Preoccupied with the content of food, Purging by self-induced vomiting, exercise, or by using laxatives, Over-exercising, Having “rules” associated with foods, Cutting out certain foods or food groups, Body avoidance (example: buying clothes that are too big or avoiding looking at yourself in the mirror), Body checking (Example: measuring body parts), Being unable to stop eating past fullness, Measuring or weighing food, Counting calories, and more.
Many individuals struggle with their relationship with food and their body and are surrounded with food or body-related messages on social media and in our culture. Treatment for ED isn’t just about having a better relationship with food, it looks at the underlying emotional connection and unmet needs of the client. Eating Disorders are unique for each individual and treatment is catered to your individualistic needs.
Comorbidity: EDs are often associated with Major depression/anxiety, Panic disorder, Substance Use Disorder, trauma, self-injury, and suicidal ideation.
Hannah Merrell is one of our main providers who treats eating disorders.
Contact us to learn more or schedule your first appointment.