Eating Disorder Treatment in Wellesley, MA
Eating is a part of our everyday life. Our body requires food as fuel to function throughout the day and give us energy. Many people pay attention to the food they eat, trying to maintain a healthy diet or exercise program. However, others who show medical or mental illness with their approach to food and weight are diagnosed with an eating disorder.
Eating disorders are serious, biologically influenced medical illnesses marked by severe disturbances to one’s eating behaviors. These disorders can affect a person’s physical and mental health. In some cases, eating disorders can be life-threatening. Eating disorders may be the result of bullying, poor self-image, trauma, weight stigma, or other psychological, biological, or behavioral factors.
Since 1994, Colony Care Behavioral Health has offered comprehensive treatment for eating disorders to patients in Wellesley, MA. Our team of highly-trained independently licensed psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed psychotherapists, and psychiatric nurse practitioners are dedicated to providing patients with patient-centered, convenient, and affordable care. Our affiliated clinicians offer both in-person services at our offices in Yarmouth Port, Wellesley, Weymouth and Arlington, MA, and services via telehealth. If you are currently experiencing symptoms of eating disorders, please contact our offices at (781) 431-1177. and schedule an appointment today!
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Types of Eating Disorders
The two most commonly diagnosed eating disorders include anorexia nervosa (severely limiting or avoiding food) or bulimia nervosa (eating large amounts of food followed by purging).
Binge-eating disorder (overeating without purging) can also lead to serious medical effects such as obesity. Avoidant restrictive food take disorder is a dramatic restriction of types or amount of food eaten.
With treatment, people can recover completely from eating disorders and live a balanced, healthy life.
What are the Signs of an Eating Disorder?
Most people eating disorders will show signs of:
- Body dissatisfaction
- Obsession with controlling food
- Repetitive weighing
- Excessive exercise
- Pursuit of thinness
- Unwillingness to maintain a normal or healthy weight
- Intense fear of gaining weight
- Distorted body or self-image
- Denial of the seriousness of low body weight
People with anorexia nervosa may be:
- Avoiding food
- Severely restricting food
- Eating very small quantities of only certain foods
- Extreme thinness (emaciation)
People with bulimia nervosa may show:
- Lack of control over their eating
- Binging or eating large amounts of food in a short time
- Overeating, followed by trying to get rid of food that was consumed
- Forced vomiting
- Using laxatives or diuretics
- Fasting
What is the Treatment for Eating Disorders?
Treatment plans for eating disorders include psychotherapy, nutritional counseling, medications, medical care and monitoring, or a combination of treatment.
Treatment for an eating disorder commonly will address:
- Eating disorder symptoms
- Medical consequences
- Psychological or mental illnesses
- Biological implications
- Brain chemistry
- Interpersonal relationships
- Cultural forces
- Nutritional recommendations
- Lifestyle changes
- Medications, such as antidepressants or sedatives
Eating Disorder Treatment Options
Psychotherapy can be implemented across a variety of eating disorders, and its ultimate goal is to bring about improvements in your health. You can learn tools to use and strategies to cope with eating disorders and take control of your life.
Nutritional counseling as part of psychotherapy can incorporate education about nutritional needs. We can help you learn about food, the nutrients your body needs, and how to monitor rational choices. This will put you on a path to navigate food long after you work through your eating disorder.
Medication is also available as a treatment option for eating disorders and usually involves antidepressants and sedatives. These medications help to balance brain and body chemistry, prevent anxiety episodes, and curb the severity of symptoms. Talk to your doctor to see if medication is the best route to help with your eating disorder.
Medical treatment may also be part of your healing as eating disorders can greatly impact your body and its necessary functions. Eating disorders can lead to thinning bones, hair loss, low blood pressure, infertility, lethargy, muscle weakness, brain damage, organ failure, throat issues, dehydration, teeth issues, and sometimes death.
Your body is an amazing gift and food will always be a part of life. Your eating disorders may be too much to handle on your own. Let us work with you to get you headed in the right direction.
Goals of Eating Disorder Treatment
As you seek treatment for an eating disorder, you are taking the right step towards a more healthy version of yourself. Our providers are specially trained to establish a trusting relationship and help you live a better life.
Some common goals of eating disorder treatment include:
- Restoring adequate nutrition
- Bringing weight to a healthy level
- Reducing excessive exercise
- Stopping binge-purge and binge-eating behaviors
Eating Disorders Can Be Very Complex
People with eating disorders can be very complex and sometimes the approach to food can vary or overlap. Diagnosing an eating disorder is not always straightforward, as many individuals have a unique approach to food, diet, or exercise.
Eating disorders can develop in any gender and at any age. Often, it feels that you are trapped and you no longer have a choice. Our professionals will listen to your specific needs to give you the care you deserve.
Schedule a Eating Disorder Consultation Today!
If you feel you may be at risk for developing an eating disorder or are already suffering from one, we can help.The chance for recovery increases the earlier an eating disorder is detected. For more information, contact our office at (781) 431-1177 today to schedule a consultation.