Eating disorders are serious, potentially life-threatening mental health conditions characterized by severe disturbances in thoughts about food, weight, and shape—and in eating behaviors. They are medical conditions, not choices, and can impair the body’s ability to obtain proper nutrition, leading to complications (cardiac, renal, bone, endocrine) and increased risk of death. Co-occurring depression, anxiety, and substance use are common and can worsen outcomes. Early detection and treatment improve recovery.
Although anyone can develop an eating disorder, they are more common in women and typically begin in the teen years or young adulthood, though they can start in childhood or later in life.
If anxiety is intense, lasts most days for six months or more (time frames vary by diagnosis), leads to avoidance, and disrupts daily life, it may meet criteria for an anxiety disorder. Without treatment, symptoms can worsen over time.
We incorporate the latest clinical interventions in nutritional and metabolic psychiatry
Exact causes are multifactorial—a complex interaction of genetic, biological/brain, psychological/behavioral, and social factors.
We assess key biomarkers and address biochemical imbalances.
Most people do best with a multidisciplinary plan (medical, nutritional, and psychological care). Level of care ranges from outpatient to residential/inpatient depending on medical and psychiatric risk.
1. Psychotherapies (core treatments)
2. Nutrition & Medical Care
3. Medications
Medication is adjunctive to psychotherapy and nutrition; no medication alone cures an eating disorder.
