Eating Disorders: Signs, Medical Safety, and Treatment Options
Eating disorders affect how people relate to food, body image, and control. They are medical and mental health conditions that can affect people of all ages, sizes, and backgrounds. With timely, coordinated care, recovery and improved health are possible.
Our website is for information only. We help you understand your options and prepare for conversations with licensed providers, but we do not diagnose, treat, or guarantee outcomes.
What Counts as an Eating Disorder?
Eating disorders involve ongoing patterns around food, eating, or weight that harm physical health or daily functioning. Common diagnoses include:
- Anorexia nervosa: significant restriction and fear of weight gain
- Bulimia nervosa: cycles of binge eating and compensatory behaviors
- Binge Eating Disorder: recurrent binge eating with distress
- ARFID: restrictive intake unrelated to weight or shape concerns
- OSFED: eating disorder symptoms that cause harm but don’t fit a single category
Only a licensed clinician can determine which mental health diagnosis applies and what level of care is safest.
Signs and Symptoms
Physical Signs
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Fatigue or low energy
- Feeling cold often
- Digestive discomfort
- Menstrual or hormonal changes
Thoughts and Emotions
- Intense fear of weight gain
- Rigid food rules
- Guilt or shame after eating
- Anxiety around meals
- Preoccupation with body shape
Daily Life Impact
- Skipping meals or hiding food
- Frequent bathroom use after eating
- Compulsive or compensatory exercise
- Withdrawal from social activities
- Difficulty focusing on school or work
Not everyone has the same signs. A clinician can assess patterns and medical safety.
When to Seek Urgent Help
Seek urgent medical care if there is:
- Fainting, chest pain, or breathing difficulty
- Very slow or fast heart rate
- Severe dehydration or confusion
- Inability to keep food or fluids down
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
Online information cannot manage medical emergencies.
Eating Disorders and Substance Use
Some people use substances to suppress appetite or cope with distress. This increases medical risk. Integrated care addresses eating disorder symptoms and substance use together, combining medical monitoring, nutrition support, therapy, and recovery planning.
How Diagnosis and Medical Monitoring Work
A licensed clinician will:
Review eating patterns, exercise, and weight changes
Assess medical stability through vitals and labs as needed
Screen for anxiety, depression, OCD traits, trauma, or neurodivergence
Recommend a level of care based on safety and daily functioning
Levels of Care
Care level is based on medical stability and support needs.
- Inpatient or medical stabilization for urgent health risks
- Residential care with 24/7 structure and monitoring
- Partial Hospitalization Programs with supported meals
- Intensive Outpatient Programs for step-down care
- Outpatient and telehealth when medically stable
Treatment Components
Eating disorder treatment works best with a coordinated team approach.
Medical and Nutrition Care
- Ongoing monitoring of vitals and labs
- Structured meal plans to restore nourishment
- Meal support and gradual food exposure
Evidence-Based Therapies
- Family-Based Treatment for adolescents
- CBT-E to address eating and body image patterns
- DBT skills for emotion regulation
- Trauma-informed approaches when relevant
Medication Support
There is no single medication for eating disorders. Medication may be used to treat co-occurring conditions or specific symptoms. A prescriber will explain risks and benefits. Medication is optional and carefully monitored.
Skills You Can Practice Now
These strategies support treatment but do not replace care.
- Aim for regular meals and snacks as guided
- Plan meals ahead when possible
- Use grounding or paced breathing for distress
- Reduce body checking behaviors
- Curate social media toward body-neutral content
Guidance for Loved Ones
Support for loved ones is part of effective eating disorder care. Families and partners can offer calm, consistent support to the person affected while also receiving guidance for their own role. Set clear boundaries around meals and medical care, offer practical help, and involve clinicians in safety planning when needed.
Preparing for Your Appointment
Use this checklist to ensure you’re prepared for your first appointment. Bringing a few details can help your care team assess needs more accurately:
- Recent weight changes or fainting episodes
- Typical eating, exercise, or purging patterns
- Current medications, supplements, and medical history
- Your top treatment goals
- Insurance information and cost questions
FAQs
Do I have to be underweight to have an eating disorder?
No. Eating disorders affect people of all sizes. Medical risk is not based on weight alone.
Will treatment require weight changes?
Goals depend on medical safety. Your team will explain recommendations clearly.
Can I exercise during treatment?
Movement may be limited until it is medically safe. Your team will guide this.
Is recovery possible?
Yes. Progress may take time, but many people improve with steady care.
Can care be virtual?
Some parts of your treatment plan can be scheduled through virtual care. Medical monitoring may require in-person visits.
Insurance and Costs
Insurance coverage varies by plan and level of care. Programs can verify benefits and estimate costs, but final coverage is confirmed by your insurer. Ask about in-network options and payment plans.
Helpful Resources
In Crisis? Get Immediate Help
If you are in danger or thinking of self-harm, call 911 (or your local emergency number). In the US, dial or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.