Eating disorders are psychological conditions characterized by unhealthy, obsessive, or disordered eating habits. Eating disorders come with both emotional and physical symptoms and include anorexia nervosa (voluntary starvation), bulimia nervosa (binge-eating followed by purging), binge-eating disorder (binge-eating without purging), and other or unspecified eating disorders (disordered eating patterns that do not fit into another category).
How Are Eating Disorders Treated?
It can take a long time—sometimes years or decades—for people with an eating disorder to decide to seek help. When they do, there are numerous treatment options that can help them recover.
People with eating disorders often receive outpatient treatment, but severe cases may require hospitalization or treatment at an inpatient facility. Treatment involves a physician, a psychologist, and a nutritionist to address the different elements of the illness. Therapies for eating disorders of any type include cognitive behavioral therapy, and a version tailored to eating disorders called enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy, as well as family-based treatment.
For more, see How Are Eating Disorders Treated?
Recovering from an eating disorder can be a long and winding road. And once in recovery, people must continue to observe and adapt to prevent setbacks and relapses . Treatment can provide the necessary skills to do that.
Explore More About What Are Eating Disorders?
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