Mercy Seat Mental Health Treatment Center: Stella A Tih, DNP

What are eating disorders?

Eating disorders are mental health conditions that affect how a person thinks, feels, and behaves around food and eating. They struggle with disturbances in eating behaviors that may have serious health consequences. 

Preoccupation with food, weight, or body shape are signs someone may be struggling with an eating disorder. 

What are the types of eating disorders?

There are many types of eating disorders. Some of the more common types include:

Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a serious condition where people avoid eating or eat very limited amounts of food because they fear gaining weight, even though they’re extremely underweight. This eating disorder is the most serious, potentially leading to permanent organ damage or even death.

Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is a condition in which people have recurrent episodes of consuming large amounts of food (binging) and then purging (via vomiting, using laxatives, or exercising for hours) to compensate for their overeating. 

People with bulimia nervosa feel as though they have no control over their eating during a binge and feel tremendous amounts of guilt and shame after.

Binge-eating disorder (BED)

BED is a common eating disorder. Like bulimia, people with BED eat large amounts of food in a short period. However, they don’t engage in behaviors to get rid of what they’ve consumed. 

Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)

ARFID is a newly defined eating disorder in which people persistently fail to meet their nutritional needs due to extreme pickiness. People with ARFID avoid food and have a limited food repertoire.

What are the treatments for eating disorders?

Mercy Seat Mental Health Treatment Center takes an individualized approach to treating eating disorders. Before making any recommendations, your provider conducts a thorough initial assessment, reviewing your symptoms, medical and mental health history, and family history.

They also do psychological testing to better understand how you think and feel. Eating disorders benefit from a multidisciplinary approach that includes your primary care provider and mental health professional. Your treatment plan may include:

• Medication management
• Psychotherapy
• Nutrition therapy
• Family therapy

Your provider at Mercy Seat Mental Health Treatment Center closely monitors you, your symptoms, and your goals, adjusting your plan as needed. They pay close attention with regular follow-ups, so you know you have someone to turn to when you need help.

To find out more about treatments for eating disorders at Mercy Seat Mental Health Treatment Center, call the office or schedule an appointment online today.