People with an eating disorder may not realize or admit there's a problem. The person must want to get help and make changes. Getting help may take a long time. The course of treatment depends on how serious the problems are. Relapse is common and part of the process of getting better. It often happens during times of stress.
The good news is, these disorders can be treated. The sooner this happens, the lower the risk of having long term health problems. Serious cases may need to be treated in a hospital first. Common methods use medicines and counseling. This is to help you change your self-esteem and improve your life.
Even though each eating disorder has different problems, the goals are the same. These are:
Eating disorders are treated with one or more of:
There are no surgical procedures to treat eating disorders.
About eating disorders. National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders website. Available at: http://www.anad.org/education-and-awareness/about-eating-disorders. Accessed September 6, 2018.
Anorexia nervosa. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T114614/Anorexia-nervosa. Updated June 15, 2017. Accessed September 6, 2018.
Binge eating disorder. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T563461/Binge-eating-disorder. Updated June 15, 2017. Accessed September 6, 2018.
Bulimia nervosa. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T114924/Bulimia-nervosa. Updated July 16, 2018. Accessed September 6, 2018.
Eating disorders: About more than food. National Institute of Mental Health website. Available at: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/eating-disorders/index.shtml. Updated 2018. Accessed September 6, 2018.
Last reviewed May 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Adrian Preda, MD Last Updated: 9/6/2018