Eating Disorders
Overcoming Disordered Eating Behaviors
Changing your relationship with food is a process. Healing takes time, but we will be with you every step of the way.
Eating Disorders Treatment in Chattanooga
According to National Associated of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), around 9% of the US population (28.8 million Americans) will suffer from an eating disorder in their lifetime. The damage of having an eating disorder can be so severe that they are ranked among the deadliest mental illnesses, second only to opioid addiction. In fact, eating disorders directly cause around 10,200 deaths per year—roughly one death every hour. Unfortunately, only 1 in 10 people will seek eating disorders treatment.
Fortunately, eating disorders are highly treatable. Over 60% of patients who seek eating disorders treatment make a full recovery. If you or a loved one is suffering from eating disorders, finding help is the crucial to your journey back to a healthy relationship with food.
Recognizing the Different Types of Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are mental health conditions that are characterized by an unhealthy relationship with food. People with an eating disorder also often develop an obsession with body shape and weight. There are three main types of eating disorders:
Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder where the person views themselves are overweight, even if they are dangerously underweight. They will typically avoid certain types of food and exercise obsessively, often to the point of endangering their health even more.
Common symptoms of anorexia nervosa include:
- Being significantly underweight compared to people of similar height, sex, and age
- Very restricted eating habits
- Irrational fear of gaining weight
- Constant exercising
- Low self-esteem with regards to body shape and weight
- Distorted body image
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a condition that typically affects children, but can persist up to adulthood. Those who have ARFID develop either a lack of interest or total distaste for certain tastes, smells, temperatures, colors, or textures. This results in undereating as it causes the person to have a very restricted sort of diet.
Common symptoms of AFRID include:
- Avoidance of certain food types, preventing proper nutrient intake
- Limited eating habits
- Disrupted social function (inability to eat in restaurants)
- Weight loss or stunted growth
In severe cases, the person may end up requiring supplements or even tube feeding in order to get the right amount of nutrients.
Bulimia nervosa
Bulimia is a condition that is marked by cycle of extreme overeating (bingeing), immediately followed by purging (vomiting) to help compensate for the overconsumption of food. Those who suffer from bulimia nervosa generally feel a lack of control while bingeing, then a feeling of guilt during the purging.
Common symptoms of bulimia nervosa include:
- Eating large quantities of food quickly, despite not feeling hungry
- Feeling a lack of control during eating
- Feeling shame or distress after bingeing
- Fear of gaining weight
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What to Expect from Eating Disorders Treatments
Patients who opt for eating disorders treatment in Chattanooga at Harmony Oaks Recovery will be personally assessed by a licensed dietician. Our staff has experience treating eating disorders.
The assessment is to help create a customized treatment program to ensure that the patient will receive adequate nutrition as well as help treat their eating disorder. Our safe and private setting allows us to offer the best care possible for our clients through intensive and one-on-one therapies.
Our therapies include:
- Individual therapy
- Family therapy
- Nutritional counseling
- Medical monitoring
Our goal is to ensure that our patients incorporate health eating behaviors in their everyday life as well as change self-destructive behaviors towards eating.
Why You Should Choose Harmony Oaks Recovery
Disordered eating behaviors can appear in a person’s life for a wide variety of reasons. It is a complex disorder with many disparate causes and conditions. One of the most important things you will do in recovery is learn more about your own disorder. For many, body image and self-esteem are at the core, but it is rarely as simple as just that.
People living with eating disorders often have powerful feelings of guilt and shame. These can function as a sort of vicious cycle. The feelings are exasperated by their disordered eating. In return they may act out which brings yet more guilt and shame. Part of our work with patients involves breaking the cycle of guilt and shame.
If you or someone you love is living with an eating disorder, we help them grow into a healthy relationship with food. Our compassionate experts know how to treat bulimia and anorexia. We can help end the cycle of binging and purging and restrictive eating and return you to an ideal body weight.
Most Insurance Accepted
As a member of the Harmony Recovery Group family of treatment programs, we are able to work with many private insurance plans.
Harmony Oaks Recovery Center
Find Wellness with our Expert Help
You deserve to become your best self. With decades of combined experience in mental health treatment, we are uniquely equipped to help you overcome a substance use disorder or manage any mental health condition.
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