“All the world is full with suffering. It is also full with overcoming.”
–Helen Keller
A lack of understanding about eating disorders and their impact can be a barrier to care and recovery. More than 70% of people with eating disorders also have other conditions, most commonly anxiety and mood disorders, and eating disorders have the second-highest mortality rate among mental health conditions, with one person dying from an eating disorder every 52 minutes.
A panel discussion at Foresight Mental Health during Eating Disorders Awareness Week (an annual campaign to educate the public about the realities of eating disorders and to provide hope and visibility to individuals and loved ones impacted by eating disorders) focused on practical strategies for providers and others seeking to understand and support people impacted by an eating disorder.
Here are some of the strategies our panelists recommended:
- Early Identification: Be vigilant. Look for subtle signs and symptoms of disordered eating. A compassionate and non-judgmental approach can encourage people to open up.*
- Medical Stability: Prioritize addressing any immediate medical complications related to malnutrition or disordered eating behaviors. This may involve lab work, EKG, and vital sign monitoring.
- Avoid Weight Stigma: Focus on health and well-being rather than solely on weight. Weight loss, even if initially welcomed, can mask underlying issues and delay appropriate treatment.
- Referral to Specialists for Comprehensive Care: Connecting with a registered dietitian, preferably one who specializes in eating disorders, a therapist experienced in treating eating disorders, and potentially a psychiatrist for medication management if needed, acknowledges overall well-being and can improve outcomes.
- Open Communication: Maintain open communication with the entire treatment team. Regular updates on nutritional status, weight trends, and meal adherence are vital for comprehensive care.
Help Is Available
If you or someone you care about is struggling with daily life due to the impacts of disordered eating, the first step is asking for help. A great place to start is with your primary care doctor/physician (PCP). Your PCP has tools to help with screening to assess mood, sleep, appetite, and stress levels and start a discussion around mental health resources.
If you are in our service area, Foresight is ready and willing to help! Our team will work to connect you with professionals who will listen, normalize your concerns, and provide you with tools and skills to better understand and manage the root causes of unhealthy behaviors and create strategies for healthier living. Our psychiatry team, in collaboration with therapy, can support those needing medication management.
Helpful Resources
The Inside Scoop on Eating Disorder Recovery is a how-to book by Jennifer Rollin and Colleen Reichmann, two eating disorder therapists who each recovered from an eating disorder. Through humor, personal narratives, research-proven techniques, and actionable guidelines, the book aims to help people with eating disorders to heal their relationship with food, their bodies, and ultimately themselves. The book also seeks to debunk myths on topics that have historically been unaddressed, such as clean eating and orthorexia, exercising in recovery, and fat positivity.
