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Eating Disorders

Eating Disorder Treatment

Welcome to the Center for Healthy Living’s Eating Disorder Resource Guide, your complete source for learning about eating disorders and the many treatments available. If you are suffering from an eating disorder, please call our nationally recognized toll-free helpline today at 1-800-542-4610. Find eating disorder treatment centers that can help you recover your health and reclaim your life. Caring professionals are standing by 24/7 to assist you and all calls are confidential.

Eating Disorders – Three Main Types

Whether you suffer from an eating disorder or have a loved one who does, you are not alone. At any given time, millions of people are living with eating disorders. These individuals, most often women between the ages of 14 and 35, are completely overwhelmed by thoughts about food, their bodies and weight.

Disordered eating can take on many forms, however there are three main types of eating disorders:

• Anorexia nervosa - Anorexia is an eating disorder involving food restriction and self-starvation. Patients with anorexia typically weigh 15 percent less than the normal healthy weight expected in relation to their height. Up to 15% of people with anorexia die from complications of the condition.

• Bulimia nervosa - Bulimia nervosa, often called bulimia for short, is an eating disorder in which an individual binge eats often thousands of calories in one sitting and then purges the food. Purging may involve vomiting, compulsive exercise, fasting or abuse of laxatives or diuretics. The binge-purge cycle may be repeated several times a week, or several times a day in the most serious cases. Bulimia has many serious physical and psychological complications.
• Binge eating disorder - Binge eating disorder, often referred to as compulsive overeating or food addiction is when an individual is obsessed with thoughts relating to food as a means to cope with their feelings. People suffering from a binge eating disorder tend to binge on foods high in sugar and carbohydrates, which can lead to an array of medical and psychological consequences.

Eating Disorders Affect Both Women and Men

Many people believe that eating disorders affect only women; this is simply not the case. While it is true that the majority of individuals who enter eating disorder treatment for bulimia and anorexia are women, these eating disorders are in no way limited to this gender. Many men suffer from bulimia anorexia and binge eating disorder, but few actually enter eating disorder treatment.

Recovery from Eating Disorders is Possible!

Although many people with eating disorders struggle after completing treatment, many people who are treated early in the course of their eating disorder go on to lead happy, productive and healthy lives. The key to recovery is found in a person’s willingness to “break” old habits and remain in an eating disorder treatment program long enough to restore healthy patterns of eating and resolve any underlying emotional issues.