An eating disorder can be either an extreme of unhealthy reduction or increase in the amount of food consumed. Either extreme is indicative of a mental health issue requiring treatment by trained professionals. While the results in body weight and overall health may be obvious, the reasons behind the excessive eating behavior may not be so clear.

Quite often, individuals are diagnosed with an eating disorder as a result of a visit with a healthcare provider for some other illness or symptom. Frequently an eating disorder will be diagnosed in conjunction with other issues such as depression. The most common eating disorders treated by mental health professionals are bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa.

It is possible for people suffering from eating disorders to return to a normal, healthy weight. The treatment is complex, requiring long-term and quite often permanent intervention to maintain the results. Treatment for anorexia focuses on three basic segments: restoring the proper weight, treating the underlying mental issues, and reaching recovery or long-term remission.

Treatment goals for bulimia are to reduce or end the binge eating and purging cycle. This often includes individual and group psychotherapy using a cognitive-behavioral method of treatment. In some cases, antidepressants are helpful for bulimia patients because of the effect of the SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors).

Treatment for eating disorders often begins in an inpatient facility where food intake can be closely monitored. In many cases, intravenous feedings are necessary to restore the proper electrolyte balance. Proper treatment, nutritional counseling, and mental health support are very effective in resolving the most common eating disorders.

Find Eating Disorder Treatment