What Is an Eating Disorder?

Eating disorders are characterized by negative eating habits that impact the way a person chooses to fuel their body. Anorexia, bulimia and binge eating present with different symptoms, but in each case a person will become obsessed with their body image and exhibit excessive behaviors.

Signs and Symptoms of Anorexia

• Distorted body image or a self-esteem that is heavily influenced upon
  body image
• Extreme thinness and an obsession with thinness
• An intense fear of gaining weight
• Obsessive exercising, calorie counting or dieting
• The use of laxatives, diuretics or enemas to decrease body weight
• Brittle nails, thinned hair and yellowed skin (caused by a lack of nutrition)

Signs and Symptoms of Bulimia

• Recurrent episodes of eating out of control followed by forced vomiting, fasting or use of laxatives and diuretics
• Acid reflux disorder and gastro intestinal problems
• Chronic sore throat, swollen salivary glands
• Intense fear of gaining weight

Signs and Symptoms of Binge Eating

• An inability to control their eating or caloric intake
• Negative body image, low self-worth
• Excessive eating or constant eating
• Obsession with intake of food

Treatment for Eating Disorders

Our team identifies treatment methods that not only address eating disorder symptoms, but also the psychological, biological and social forces that contribute to the eating disorder. Our eating disorder treatment program offers clients a comprehensive and holistic path to healthier living and a better quality of life. We offer psychotherapy (talk therapy), individual therapy, group therapy and nutritional support. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a particularly effective method for eating disorder treatment, because it helps clients recognize negative behavior patterns and modify them into positive actions and behaviors, both in a group and individual therapy setting.