Eating Disorder Treatment services offered in Phoenix, AZ

Do you avoid food or eat extremely small amounts of food for fear of gaining weight? A person who severely restricts food, is extremely thin, and exercises intensively may have anorexia nervosa. Over time, this eating disorder can lead to serious health problems, such as severe constipation, osteoporosis, brain damage, low blood pressure, or multiple organ failure. Anorexia nervosa can be fatal if not treated properly.

Anorexia nervosa can be categorized as:

Binge-Purge: Associated with restricting the type and amount of food consumed. People with this type of anorexia nervosa may have binge-eating episodes followed by vomiting using emetics.

Restrictive: People with this type of eating disorder usually severely limit the amount or type of food they eat.

People with bulimia nervosa may not be overweight or too thin, but they have no control over their eating. They eat large amounts of food and use laxatives, diuretics, or get rid of it through forced vomiting. Symptoms of bulimia nervosa can include severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, gastrointestinal problems, and decaying teeth. 

Not all obese or overweight people have a binge-eating disorder, a condition where you lose control over your eating and usually consume large amounts of food. You may be suffering from binge-eating disorder when you still eat even when uncomfortably full and have recurring episodes of eating. Other symptoms of binge-eating disorder include:

• Feeling guilty after eating

• Consuming unusually large amounts of food

• Eating when not hungry

• Frequent dieting without losing weight

Medical professionals may use physical and psychological exams in diagnosing an eating disorder. They ask about your eating habits and your attitude about food. Doctors may also do laboratory tests to check for organ damage and do a physical exam, checking your weight and other vital signs. 

Untreated, eating disorders can lead to serious medical and life-threatening complications. They may also lead to other mental health conditions such as substance abuse or depression. Proper treatment is crucial to fully recovering from an eating disorder. Medicines such as mood stabilizers, antidepressants or antipsychotics may help treat eating disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy and family-based therapy can help a person identify unhealthy thinking patterns about eating and eventually improve their eating habits. 

If you or a loved one needs eating disorder treatment in Phoenix, AZ, contact Peak Mental Healthcare today.