Eating Disorder Treatment
Specialized care for eating disorders and body image concerns
Understanding Eating Disorders
If you're struggling with an eating disorder, you might feel trapped in a battle with food, your body, and your thoughts. Maybe you restrict what you eat, count every calorie, or exercise compulsively. Perhaps you binge eat and then feel overwhelming shame, or you purge to try to undo what you've eaten. You might look in the mirror and see something entirely different from what others see, convinced you need to change your body before you're worthy of love or acceptance.
Eating disorders—including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and ARFID—are serious mental health conditions, not choices or phases. They often develop as a way to cope with painful emotions, trauma, or a need for control when life feels chaotic. But they take over, affecting your physical health, relationships, and quality of life. Recovery is possible, and you don't have to fight this alone. With specialized treatment, many people fully recover and develop a peaceful relationship with food and their bodies.
You might be experiencing:
Eating disorders can be life-threatening. If you're experiencing medical complications (irregular heartbeat, fainting, severe weakness, or other concerning symptoms), please seek emergency care.
National Eating Disorders Association Hotline: 1-800-931-2237 or text "NEDA" to 741741
Our Medication Approach
While therapy and nutritional rehabilitation are the foundation of eating disorder treatment, medication can be helpful for co-occurring conditions like depression, anxiety, and OCD, which are very common in people with eating disorders. In some cases, specific medications can also help reduce binge eating or improve mood during recovery.
SSRIs (For Co-Occurring Depression, Anxiety, OCD)
Most helpful for bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. Can reduce binge/purge frequency and treat underlying anxiety or depression.
- Fluoxetine (Prozac) is FDA-approved for bulimia nervosa at higher doses
- Can help with obsessive thoughts about food and body
- Limited effectiveness for anorexia until weight is restored
Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) for Binge Eating Disorder
FDA-approved specifically for moderate to severe binge eating disorder. An ADHD medication that has been shown to reduce binge episodes.
- Used carefully with close monitoring
- Not appropriate for all eating disorders
Atypical Antipsychotics (For Anorexia Nervosa)
Low doses sometimes help with severe anxiety, rigid thinking, and distorted body image in anorexia.
- Olanzapine (Zyprexa) may help with weight restoration and reducing obsessive thoughts
- Used cautiously due to side effects
Important Considerations
- Medication is never the primary treatment for eating disorders—therapy and nutrition are essential
- Medications work better once nutritional status improves (especially for anorexia)
- We avoid appetite suppressants and weight-loss medications completely
- Close medical monitoring is essential due to potential physical complications
Our Prescribing Philosophy
- Medication as an adjunct to comprehensive eating disorder treatment
- Target co-occurring conditions that interfere with recovery
- Work collaboratively with therapists, dietitians, and medical doctors
- Careful monitoring of vital signs, labs, and physical health
- Never prescribe anything that could be used to support eating disorder behaviors
Therapy & Lifestyle Changes
Recovery from an eating disorder requires specialized therapy and working with a registered dietitian. Treatment addresses not just eating behaviors but the underlying emotional pain, trauma, perfectionism, or need for control that the eating disorder developed to manage. Full recovery is possible, and it means more than just changing eating habits—it means freedom.
Therapy Approaches We Recommend
Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT-E)
The leading evidence-based treatment for bulimia and binge eating disorder. Addresses the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that maintain the eating disorder.
- Typically 20 sessions over 20 weeks
- Helps normalize eating patterns and challenge distorted thoughts
- Addresses perfectionism, low self-esteem, and interpersonal difficulties
Family-Based Treatment (FBT) for Adolescents
The most effective treatment for adolescents with anorexia nervosa. Parents take an active role in helping restore their child's weight and health, then gradually return control to the teen.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Particularly helpful for eating disorders accompanied by emotional dysregulation, self-harm, or impulsivity. Teaches skills for tolerating distress, regulating emotions, and improving relationships.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Helps you clarify your values and commit to behaviors aligned with those values, rather than being controlled by eating disorder thoughts and urges.
Trauma-Focused Therapy
Many eating disorders develop in response to trauma. Once nutritionally stable, trauma processing (like EMDR) can be an important part of recovery.
Nutritional Rehabilitation with Registered Dietitian
Essential component of treatment. Working with an eating disorder specialist dietitian helps you:
- Restore healthy eating patterns
- Challenge food rules and fears
- Learn intuitive eating principles
Recovery-Supporting Changes
Build a Treatment Team (Essential)
Eating disorder treatment works best with a team approach.
- Psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner for medication management
- Therapist specialized in eating disorders
- Registered dietitian specialized in eating disorders
- Primary care doctor to monitor physical health
Reduce Triggering Content
Protect your recovery by limiting exposure to triggers.
- Unfollow diet culture, fitness, and "wellness" accounts on social media
- Avoid weighing yourself—let your treatment team handle that
- Remove scales, calorie-counting apps, and full-length mirrors if needed
Develop Coping Skills Beyond the Eating Disorder
The eating disorder served a purpose—now you'll learn healthier ways to cope with difficult emotions, stress, and life challenges. This includes mindfulness, distress tolerance skills, creative outlets, and reaching out for support.
Challenge Exercise Compulsion
If exercise has become compulsive or a purging behavior, you may need to take a break. Later in recovery, you can reintroduce movement in a joyful, non-compensatory way—for how it feels, not to burn calories.
Structured Eating and Meal Support
Eating at regular times (even if not hungry) helps restore normal hunger/fullness cues. Having someone supportive present during meals can help, especially early in recovery.
Connect With Others in Recovery
Support groups (like those through NEDA) reduce isolation and provide hope. Hearing from others further along in recovery shows that freedom is possible.
Be Patient—Recovery Takes Time
Recovery isn't linear. You'll have hard days and setbacks. That's normal and doesn't mean you're failing. Keep showing up for yourself. Full recovery—living free from eating disorder thoughts and behaviors—is absolutely possible.
Recovery Is Possible—And You Deserve It
You are more than your eating disorder. Recovery means reclaiming your life, finding peace with food and your body, and discovering who you are beyond these struggles. Our team understands eating disorders and will support you every step of the way with compassion, expertise, and hope. You don't have to fight this alone.