Treatment
Goals of Treatment
- Restore a healthy weight
- Reduce or eliminate binge eating, purging, and restricting behaviors
- Treat physical complications
- Resolution of co-occurring conditions and other psychological disturbances such as distortion of body image, low self-esteem, and interpersonal conflicts
- Establish a healthy attitude towards food, eating and exercise
- Achieve long-term remission and rehabilitation or full recovery
Support Team
Recovery from an eating disorder requires restoration of emotional, physical, and nutritional health. To address all necessary aspects of treatment, it is important to be monitored by a trio of professionals, including a psychologist, physician and registered dietitian.
Beginning the recovery process is terrifying! People often go to the least "scary" caregiver first. If this happens to be the dietitian, she should be encouraged to seek additional help but it should not be required for nutritional treatment. Any effort on their part to recover is good and should be encouraged. Forcing patients with EDs into any type of treatment is ineffective and counter-effective because the patient feels as if control is being taken away from them.
Beginning the recovery process is terrifying! People often go to the least "scary" caregiver first. If this happens to be the dietitian, she should be encouraged to seek additional help but it should not be required for nutritional treatment. Any effort on their part to recover is good and should be encouraged. Forcing patients with EDs into any type of treatment is ineffective and counter-effective because the patient feels as if control is being taken away from them.
Types of Treatment
- In-patient and residential
- Partial hospitalization
- Out-patient and intensive outpatient programs
- Group therapy & support groups
- Family therapy
Medications
No cure has been found for EDs. However, medications have helped some individuals. The drugs aren't used to treat the disorder directly, but to help with challenges that play a role in eating behaviors, including other co-existing conditions, anxiety, mood instability, sensitivity to stress and distorted thought processes. Antidepressants, mainly fluoxetine (Prozac), have been shown to help regulate eating behaviors and reduce binging and purging episodes in people with BN. While fluoxetine is the only medication approved for the treatment of BN, other medications may be prescribed under a doctor's recommendation.
What Is a "Healthy" Weight?
A healthy weight is one that supports normal physiological functions and emotional well-being. Goal weights for people who are underweight should be set at no less than 90% of their ideal body weight. At a healthy weight, menses should be regular. However, this may not always be the case, depending on each individual and their eating habits.
A quick way to estimate ideal weight is as follows:
For females: 100 lbs. for the first 5 feet of height plus 5 lbs. for each additional inch.
For males: 106 lbs. for the first 5 feet of height plus 6 lbs. for each additional inch.
To account for a large or small frame size, add or subtract 10% of the total, respectively.
Recommended weight gain goals are generally 1-2 pounds per week for outpatient and 2-3 pounds per week for inpatients.
A quick way to estimate ideal weight is as follows:
For females: 100 lbs. for the first 5 feet of height plus 5 lbs. for each additional inch.
For males: 106 lbs. for the first 5 feet of height plus 6 lbs. for each additional inch.
To account for a large or small frame size, add or subtract 10% of the total, respectively.
Recommended weight gain goals are generally 1-2 pounds per week for outpatient and 2-3 pounds per week for inpatients.
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