(314) 737-4070
CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL | SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT | DIRECTIONS
HOME | OUR TEAM | TREATMENT PHILOSOPHY | Q&A | SERVICES | FORMS | CONTACT US
HOME | OUR TEAM | TREATMENT PHILOSOPHY | Q&A | SERVICES | FORMS | CONTACT US
Of all mental illnesses, anorexia nervosa has one of the highest death rates. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by self-starvation, excessive weight loss, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a relentless pursuit of thinness. While misconceptions are common, anorexia nervosa is not a strategy for attention or a diet gone awry. It is, in fact, a mental illness. The age of onset is typically between the ages of 13 and 20. People of all ages, genders, and ethnicities suffer from anorexia nervosa, although females represent 90% of all cases. Sometimes dangerous strategies of weight control are used such as compulsive exercise, limited food intake, laxative abuse, vomiting, or a combination of these behaviors. Sufferers are fixated on food, calories, and fat intake and have a distorted perception of their appearance. Someone who has anorexia nervosa bases his or her self-worth on thinness or muscularity and generally feels fat, flawed, or disgusting despite being below normal body weight for specific age and height. Restrictive eating becomes the primary method for coping with feelings of loss of control and fears about loss and imperfection. No matter how much weight is lost, those who struggle with this disorder are never satisfied.
Malnutrition and the associated low blood sugar, low blood pressure, high cortisol (stress hormones), and lack of appropriate sex hormones can change the brain leading to greater negative emotions, obsessional thinking, and self-critical thoughts. Body image distortion is at least in part brain-based and will not reverse until nutrition is restored. Although organ damage and heart failure lead to significant mortality, suicide is also a significant cause of death. Patients should be screened for heart, endocrine, bone, kidney, and metabolic problems.
The earlier anorexia nervosa is detected and diagnosed, the better the chances of recovery. The first goal of treatment is to re-establish medical stability, restore a normal eating structure, and restore weight to a minimum healthy goal. Patients typically work with a team of specialized professionals, which might include a dietitian, family doctor, psychiatrist, and therapist to work towards these goals. At first , psychotherapy should address obstacles to accepting healthy weight, eating, and exercise goals. Once a plan is established, the therapist must focus on self-acceptance, quieting critical thoughts and understanding underlying anxieties. The goal is to increase the patient’s skills so that he or she can let go of inappropriate use of food and weight control behaviors to cope with stress and change.
Family-based treatment is the treatment of choice for most adolescents who first present with anorexia nervosa. In this treatment method, the family learns how to focus meal support and emotional support to assure gradual restoration of balanced eating and safe weight. Therapy focused on resolving family conflict, adolescent development, peer issues, boundaries, and role transitions is postponed until weight restoration and normal eating are established.
Some patients may need 24 hour care on a medical or specialized eating disorders unit to achieve initial stabilization and break their dangerous habits. In such a circumstance, our team can continue to follow care and work closely with McCallum Place Eating Disorder Treatment Center to coordinate ongoing care.
Anorexia nervosa is an illness characterized by self-starvation, excessive weight loss, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a relentless pursuit of thinness. While misconceptions are common, anorexia nervosa is a severe mental illness; it is not a strategy for attention or just a diet. Anorexia nervosa most frequently occurs in young women and adolescent female teens between the ages of 13 and 20. However, people of all ages, genders, and ethnicities have been known to suffer from anorexia nervosa. At Webster Wellness Professionals, our experienced clinical professionals offer superior knowledge and expertise providing anorexia nervosa treatment for all individuals. Our eating disorder center offers effective treatment for anorexia in adolescents, adults, and males. To learn more about our eating disorder treatment methods for individuals with anorexia nervosa, contact us.
There are a number of different signs and symptoms commonly displayed in individuals with anorexia nervosa. These can include the use of one or more many dangerous procedures for weight control, such as compulsive exercise, limited food intake, and abuse of laxatives. An anorexia nervosa sufferer is often fixated on food, calories, and fat intake and features a distorted perception of his or her appearance. For example, a person suffering from anorexia nervosa will base his or her self-worth on thinness and will often feel “fat” or overweight despite being below the normal body weight for his or her specific age and height combination. A final characteristic of individuals suffering from this illness includes the belief that no matter how much weight is lost, he or she will never be satisfied with the amount of weight lost.
To learn more about the particular symptoms and treatment of eating disorders in males, view our Male Eating Disorder Treatment page.
While specific symptoms of anorexia can vary from individual to individual, the following are some of the most common symptoms of anorexia nervosa in women, men, and adolescents:
Of all mental illnesses, anorexia nervosa has the highest death rate. Anorexia results in a number of physical side effects and serious medical complications including bone loss, kidney and liver damage, electrolyte imbalances, and brain shrinkage, making it a very dangerous disease if not treated properly. Osteopenia, reversible loss of bone mineral, commonly occurs in patients suffering from anorexia nervosa. Lanugo, a layer of fine white hair that the body uses to insulate itself, usually develops on the arms and face of anorexic individuals over time. Other possible medical complications may include low body temperature, lack of energy, weakness, heart rhythm abnormalities, and heart attacks. In some cases, if treatment is not received, anorexia nervosa can lead to cardiac arrest and death.
The earlier anorexia nervosa is detected and diagnosed, the better the chances are of recovery. Working with qualified eating disorder professionals in the form of a multidisciplinary treatment team has been shown to be one of most helpful strategies for recovery from anorexia nervosa and other types of eating disorders. An eating disorder treatment team generally consists of the following professionals: a therapist, dietitian, nurse and/or physician, and psychiatrists. Webster Wellness Professionals are a number of therapists, psychiatrists, internists, and dietitians that can work with an individual’s primary care physician in order to develop an ideal treatment based on the individual’s needs. We also offer specialized treatment for special populations. For example, our male eating disorder treatment program includes male only group sessions to address the issues and problems particular to eating disorders in men. In addition, we recommend family-based therapy for the specific treatment of anorexia nervosa in adolescents and children.
When treating anorexia, the first goals of treatment are to restore normal body weight and gain medical stability with supervised eating and the development of new eating habits. Next, because treatment is much more involved than simply changing one’s eating habits and physically stabilizing a patient in the short-term, we focus on teaching a patient the underlying issues and causes that originally led to the development of the disorder. This helps individuals to achieve long-term health and prevent relapse.
In our anorexia nervosa treatment programs, we work to help individuals learn how to eliminate obsessive and inappropriate weight control behaviors. Not all patients respond to the same treatment. The recovery process is highly variable. We offer a variety of effective treatment methods including individual therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy group for eating disorders, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), family therapy, nutritional education, group therapy, and experiential therapies to address individual needs.
Eating disorder treatment may be offered in an inpatient or outpatient setting. In some cases, a hospital stay may be required. It is possible that relapses may occur after treatment for anorexia nervosa, but Webster Wellness Professionals offers outside support and continuing treatment for those who need a continuous level of care in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. When undergoing anorexia nervosa treatment programs, both the individual and family members must understand and accept that setbacks are common but can be overcome. While the medical complications of anorexia nervosa are serious and potentially life threatening, with the right treatment anorexia nervosa is a treatable illness and lasting recovery is possible. To learn how Webster Wellness Professionals can help treat anorexia nervosa for you or a loved one, please contact our eating disorder and weight control center in St. Louis.