Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsLevels of TreatmentPrescription MedicationsTherapiesMedical TreatmentsComplementary MedicineRecoverySummaryNext in Eating Disorders GuideEating Disorder Facts and Statistics: What You Need to Know
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Levels of Treatment
Prescription Medications
Therapies
Medical Treatments
Complementary Medicine
Recovery
Summary
Next in Eating Disorders Guide
Eating disorders treatment takes a team approach to ensure you get the medical care, nutritional counseling, and behavioral therapy that meets your unique needs. Seeking treatment is essential, as eating disorders cause severe complications and have one of the highest mortality rates of any mental illness.
Your treatment may include individual, family, or group therapy. During therapy, you’ll learn to identify and change thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that trigger your eating disorder. Your treatment doesn’t stop after you regain healthier eating habits. You’ll continue to receive medical monitoring and mental healthcare to support your progress.
Eating disorder treatment should be individualized. Effective treatment methods will differ based on the type of eating disorder a person has.Types of eating disordersinclude:Anorexia nervosaBulimia nervosaBinge eating disorderOther specified feeding and eating disorder (OSFED)Unspecified feeding or eating disorder
Eating disorder treatment should be individualized. Effective treatment methods will differ based on the type of eating disorder a person has.Types of eating disordersinclude:
Eating disorders are treated in a variety of different settings, based on a person’s unique needs, preferences, family involvement, and the medical or psychiatric severity of their condition.
Levels of treatment for eating disorders can include:
Prescription medications are used to treat eating disorders but are not usually the sole treatment method.Medications such as antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and antidepressants may help when used in conjunction with therapy or to help treat co-occurring conditions such asanxietyordepression.
For people with binge eating disorder, lisdexamfetamine, a derivative of amphetamine, is FDA-approved and well-tolerated.Antidepressants are also effective in binge eating disorder treatment and are shown to reduce distressing binge eating behaviors.
Verywell / Michela Buttignol
Psychotherapy is the foundation of eating disorder treatment. The type a person chooses will vary based on their eating disorder, personal culture, background, and preferences. In most cases, a combination of therapies will be the most effective treatment.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) is the most widely-studied psychotherapy for treating eating disorders. In CBT, a person is taught to identify and change negative and distorted thought patterns. Changing their thoughts leads to positive changes in emotions and behaviors.
In CBT for eating disorders, you may first learn to identify destructive thought patterns around food, emotions, control, and body image. Then, you learn coping mechanisms to deal with these negative thought cycles. Eventually, your therapist works with you to change yourdisordered eatingbehaviors.
Research shows that cognitive behavioral therapy can begin to improve eating disorder symptoms in just six sessions, with early reduction in restrictive behaviors being the best indicator of a positive outcome.
A 2017 systematic review also found that cognitive behavioral therapy is effective at treating all types of eating disorders and is equally or more effective than other types of psychotherapy.
Other Psychotherapies
In addition to cognitive behavioral therapy, there are other evidence-based psychotherapy methods used in eating disorder treatment. These include:
Family-Based Therapy
Family-based therapy (FBT), also referred to as the Maudsley approach, was developed in London in the late 1900s. It is now a leading eating disorder treatment method for children and adolescents with eating disorders.
FBT is a behavioral therapy that does not address the root cause of the eating disorder or blame the condition on the family, as previous methods have done. Instead, it treats the family as a unit and empowers parents to assist their child through recovery in what is treated as a battle against the eating disorder as an external force.
In the beginning stage of family-based therapy, a certified therapist helps the parents feed the child or teen, as they take full control of their child’s nutrition at home. Throughout FBT, control is gradually transitioned back to the child.
A central benefit of family-based therapy is that the child or teen gets to remain living at home with their family. FBT is typically offered in outpatient or occasionally partial hospitalization settings.
A systematic review found that FBT is not more effective than individual therapy at the end of treatment. However, FBT does have longer-term results with significant benefits maintained six to 12 months after treatment.
Some research indicates that family-based therapy may actually be more effective than CBT at treating bulimia nervosa among adolescents.
Nutritional Therapy
Returning to a healthy body weight and following a balanced meal plan is essential for healing. However, this may be physically and emotionally painful for the person in recovery.
Nutritional counseling can help you develop a meal plan, normalize eating patterns, and reach a stable and healthy body weight. It can also aid in altering your relationship with food and eating, and developing a recovery and relapse plan.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy(OT) is increasingly becoming a part of eating disorder treatment in both residential and inpatient settings. Occupational therapists approach health and rehabilitation through the lens of a person’s meaningful activities and routines.
Many with eating disorders struggle to engage in activities involving food (grocery shopping, meal preparation, and eating out), socializing, leisure pursuits, and self-care.Occupational therapy can help a person learn to engage in these and other activities.
Occupational therapy can also help withsensory modulationand integration, particularly among people with anorexia nervosa who experience sensory over-responsiveness during the acute stages of recovery and weight gain.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy(PT) has an emerging role in eating disorder treatment. A person might see a physical therapist in a residential treatment program or an outpatient clinic to work on rebuilding muscle mass, strength, and body awareness.
A 2013 systematic review found that of physical therapy treatment modalities, aerobic exercise, and resistance training most significantly increased muscle strength andbody mass index(BMI) in people diagnosed with anorexia nervosa.
Aerobic exercise, therapeutic yoga, massage, and body awareness therapy also helped reduce depression and eating disorder behaviors among people with anorexia and bulimia nervosa.
Medical monitoring and treatment may be essential for some people with eating disorders, depending on their physical health. It’s crucial to seek medical treatment due to the life-threatening impact and long-term health complications of eating disorders.
Medical treatment may include:
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Alternative treatments for eating disorders may have a positive impact and be very meaningful. However, they should be treated with caution and used in conjunction with medical, nutritional, and therapeutic treatments.
Yoga
Yogais a popular alternative treatment for eating disorders that has received increasing attention in research in recent years. Yoga is now often incorporated into mainstream treatment in residential or outpatient settings.
One preliminary study found that a 12-week yoga program reduced binge eating disorder severity.A randomized controlled trial found that in a residential setting, yoga reduced negative emotions before mealtime among participants with eating disorders.
However, more research is needed on the benefits of yoga for various eating disorders. A 2019 systematic review found that yoga is effective at treating eating disorders, but the quality of evidence is low and additional studies are essential before determining yoga’s effectiveness in treating eating disorders.
During recovery, a comprehensive care plan may address:
Using those aspects of recovery, a 2020 survey found that only 20% of parents felt their child had achieved full recovery from their eating disorder.However, other researchers found that people with eating disorders have a different definition of recovery than the medical community.
For many, recovery is not synonymous with complete remediation of all eating disorder challenges. Instead, improving insight and self-management may be more meaningful than a complete lack of psychological or medical issues.
Like many mental health conditions, eating disorders can be chronic. It may be more realistic to think of youreating disorder recoveryas a lifelong process, with natural ups and downs. With consistent treatment, trigger identification, and relapse plans, many can maintain their quality of life and mental and physical health.
Seek HelpIf you or a loved one are coping with an eating disorder, contact one of the following for help and support:National Alliance for Eating Disorders Helpline:1-866-662-1235ANAD Helpline:1 (888) 375-7767Diabulimia Helpline: 1 (425) 985-3635F.E.A.S.Tis an online organization supporting parents and families dealing with an eating disorder. They help you find treatment, provide information, and have online support groups.
Seek Help
If you or a loved one are coping with an eating disorder, contact one of the following for help and support:National Alliance for Eating Disorders Helpline:1-866-662-1235ANAD Helpline:1 (888) 375-7767Diabulimia Helpline: 1 (425) 985-3635F.E.A.S.Tis an online organization supporting parents and families dealing with an eating disorder. They help you find treatment, provide information, and have online support groups.
If you or a loved one are coping with an eating disorder, contact one of the following for help and support:
Treatment for eating disorders follows a team approach to ensure you receive the comprehensive care needed to recover and thrive. The team includes medical care, nutritional counseling, and therapy.
Medical specialists prescribe medications, treat complications, and support your overall health. Nutritional specialists create a healthy meal plan, allowing you to return to a healthy weight and restore nutritional well-being. Therapy is essential to explore your relationship with food, overcome negative thoughts, and recover a healthy body image.
24 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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