Anorexia Treatment
Common Anorexia Treatment Methods
At Eating Recovery Center (ERC), treatment for anorexia nervosa begins with medical and psychiatric stabilization, including nutrition, rest, and medication management of co-occurring conditions as needed to restore stability and sufficient awareness to engage in therapeutic treatment.
How to Treat Anorexia
For patients with severe anorexia nervosa, treatment initially focuses on weight restoration and medical and/or psychiatric stabilization, including around-the-clock nursing supervision, direct psychiatric care, and medication management. Nourishing meals and psychosocial support prepare patients to step down to lower levels of care.
It is important to note that while our Inpatient and Residential programs offer 24/7 medical support to address the physical and psychiatric complications of anorexia, our patients are not confined to a hospital bed or room. To the extent that they are physically able, patients participate in therapeutic programming and interact with the supportive treatment community of patients and staff.
We firmly believe that a beautiful, serene environment is essential to healing. All our eating disorder treatment centers are carefully designed with that in mind. They are restful, spacious facilities that support the therapeutic process.
Anorexia Treatment Stages
Patients who are entering into ERC's anorexia treatment program begin their journey with our clinical assessment team, staffed with compassionate, master’s-level clinicians. We assess each patient’s treatment history, current status, and personal needs to determine one’s appropriateness for care. From there, a customized anorexia program begins, consisting of three stages to prepare each patient for lasting recovery: medical stabilization, psychiatric stabilization, and weight restoration (if indicated).
Goals of Anorexia Treatment
At ERC, we believe lasting recovery from anorexia nervosa is possible, and we are here to light every patient’s path forward. Lasting recovery from anorexia is the goal, but we acknowledge that many patients need to first achieve medical stability and a healthy weight.
Specialized Treatment for Anorexia
Our medically stable patients may step down to a lower level of care where the focus shifts to helping them understand the factors that maintain anorexia symptoms and to learning recovery skills. Individual, family, and group therapies, including art, psychodrama, relaxation, movement, and yoga, are important parts of our treatment approach.
As treatment progresses, our patients have opportunities to test recovery in real-world situations, including meal and activity outings as well as day and weekend passes. Together with their treatment teams, these exercises help to identify recovery challenges and determine readiness for entry into a lower level of care with more autonomy.
Eating Recovery Center is the nation's only healthcare system dedicated to the treatment of anorexia nervosa at all levels of care, including inpatient treatment, residential treatment, partial hospitalization treatment, and intensive outpatient treatment.
Levels of Care for Anorexia Treatment
Our anorexia treatment is available at inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient levels of care. We also offer virtual care for patients who are eligible.
Inpatient Treatment
Inpatient treatment for anorexia is customized to support adults and adolescents who are acutely ill, experiencing medical and mood instability due to their condition.
Residential Treatment
The residential program offers medically stable patients a highly structured and supportive 24-hour environment for care.
Partial Hospitalization Treatment
Our partial hospitalization anorexia treatment program offers the same treatment found in our residential program, while allowing patients to practice recovery outside the controlled environment after hours at home or a peer-supported apartment.
Intensive Outpatient Treatment
The intensive outpatient anorexia treatment program is a flexible option for those who work, go to school, or care for loved ones during the day.
Know When to Seek Help for Anorexia
If you or someone you know is struggling with anorexia symptoms, professional treatment may be warranted. Please call us at 877-825-8584 to schedule a free confidential consultation with an ERC master's-level clinician and to learn more about our treatment program.
Anorexia FAQ/More Information
What is anorexia nervosa?
Although research about anorexia nervosa is ongoing, there is a lot you can learn about this eating disorder to understand how to get help for yourself or how to help a loved one.
Learn more about anorexia, including the causes, symptoms and available treatment options.
What causes anorexia?
As with other eating disorders, anorexia has no single cause. However, research suggests that eating disorders stem from a variety of genetic, psychological, and sociocultural factors.
Learn more about the factors that contribute to anorexia here.
What are the symptoms of anorexia?
Anorexia is one of the deadliest mental illnesses. It is crucial to understand the warning signs and symptoms of this complex condition.
Learn about the signs and symptoms of anorexia here.
What are the health risks associated with anorexia?
Anorexia nervosa is a serious and sometimes fatal condition that can affect nearly every system of the body. There are many short-term and long-term health risks associated with anorexia nervosa.
Learn about anorexia health risks today.
How is anorexia treated?
Anorexia treatment is personalized, depending on each patient’s needs. Medical stabilization, psychiatric stabilization, nutritional rehabilitation, and weight restoration (when appropriate) are all considered when determining a patient’s treatment plan.
Learn more about anorexia treatment options here.
What are the facts about anorexia?
A devastating illness that often requires intensive treatment, anorexia takes the lives of far too many people each year.
Discover anorexia facts and statistics here.
Do I have anorexia?
If you or a loved one struggle with some of the symptoms described here, we can help you explore anorexia treatment options.
