Do You Ever Fully Recover from an Eating Disorder?
Full recovery is possible with a comprehensive team that includes your primary care physician, a mental health professional, and a dietitian nutritionist. You might also be assigned a case manager at your insurance company.
Recovery isn’t linear, and it’s not uncommon for someone working to overcome an ED to relapse into old behaviors. Just as someone doesn’t develop an eating disorder overnight, recovery isn’t an overnight process. Early identification and treatment are vital for lasting recovery.
You can heal. And you aren’t alone.
*Note: Eating disorders cannot be self-diagnosed. They are serious medical conditions that involve severe and persistent disturbances with someone’s relationship with food and body. The only way to reach a diagnosis for anorexia, bulimia, BED, ARFID, or OSFED is through a clinical assessment with a healthcare professional.
Outpatient Eating Disorder Treatment, New York:
What does ED treatment look like?
Treatment depends on the individual, the eating disorder, and symptoms. Treatment usually includes a combination of psychotherapy, nutrition therapy, and medication (when needed), along with ongoing work with a primary care physician to monitor any medical conditions. Eating Disorders are classified as anxiety disorders in the DSM-5 and are considered critical health conditions. Your treatment team will:
Treat Physical Complications: Your team will address and help manage medical issues because of your eating disorder as well as co-occurring conditions.
Create a Treatment Plan: This plan includes sessions with psychotherapists, dietitian nutritionists, and medical monitoring.
Identify Local Resources: Online and in-person support groups, ANAD events, meal support groups, and more can all be part of your healing community. As dietitian nutritionists, we always provide our patients with resources and support information.
Help with Insurance Coverage: Because of the Affordable Care Act, nutrition care is covered by insurance. The team at NYC Nutritionist will work to help you navigate the ins-and-outs of insurance. We will help you pursue authorization when applicable.
What does an Eating Disorder Dietitian do?
Recovery is possible, and a dietitian will help you heal your relationship with food. Together we will work to support your nutritional rehabilitation. It’s fundamental that you understand nutrition isn’t black-and-white; all foods fit, and together we will build a peaceful relationship with food.
Dietitian Support for ED Recovery Includes:
An initial assessment: This session is key to understanding where you are and what you need. We will go over your medical history, weight history, lab results, and current physical symptoms. We will also learn about your eating behaviors and habits. We’ll analyze your food and liquid intake as well as your activity levels. Finally, in this initial session, we’ll assess nutrient deficiencies and possible muscle and fat loss.
Nutrition Diagnosis: Your ED dietitian will formulate the nutrition diagnosis, which identifies the nutrition problem they will be treating you for. “When creating a nutrition diagnosis statement, specific nutrition diagnostic terms and the etiologies, signs, and symptoms will be identified.2 “ This is vital to create an effective treatment plan.
Nutrition Intervention: This is where the work begins. Your dietitian will create a personalized snack and meal schedule with the exact energy and nutrients needed for weight restoration (when applicable) and recovery. Education and counseling are a big part of recovery, and together, we’ll work to repair your relationship with food. Nutrition education includes coping strategies, meal support, and online support groups for folx in treatment.
Ongoing Support: We will track your weight restoration, monitor labs, analyze reported food intake, and make adjustments based on your physical and psychological needs. We’re here for you for the long haul.
Outpatient Eating Disorder Care:
Whether you’re transitioning from an inpatient program or don’t require constant medical supervision, outpatient eating disorder dietitians can provide you with the flexibility you need to meet you where you are. Our personalized approach can guide you through recovery while we provide critical nutritional restoration and therapy.
The first step is reaching out for support. If you or someone you love is struggling with anorexia, bulimia, BED, OSFED, orthorexia, or disordered eating, reach out!
Contact us to start your treatment today.
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