Understanding Different Approaches to Eating Disorder Treatment in Appleton | Wisconsin Wellness

Disordered eating causes severe and sometimes life-threatening health conditions if left untreated. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), “Eating disorders are actually serious and often fatal illnesses that are associated with severe disturbances in people’s eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions.” Early intervention and treatment reduce the risk of serious health concerns. Although Wisconsin Wellness does not treat eating disorders (EDs), our care team accepts referrals for people who may benefit from individual therapy. Treatment is provided on a case-by-case basis to address emotional or trauma-related concerns contributing to EDs.  

Comprehensive Eating Disorder Treatment in Appleton, Wisconsin

Disordered eating is often a chronic condition requiring prolonged monitoring and treatment. Individuals living in and around Appleton, Wisconsin, benefit from the comprehensive mental health treatment programs at Wisconsin Wellness. The intensive outpatient services provide clients with a supportive environment for healing and personal growth. Clinicians offer referrals to outside programs capable of providing the support clients need to treat their disordered eating. Treatment often requires a multidisciplinary approach to care involving an outside primary care provider, nutritionist, nurse, psychiatrist, or other medical professional. 

Comprehensive treatment for EDs may include the following: 

• Psychiatry 
• Psychotherapy
• Support groups
• Psychoeducation
• Medical care and monitoring
• Nutritional counseling
• Prescription medications
• Aftercare planning

According to Frontiers in Psychiatry, “Eating disorders (EDs) are among the most severe mental disorders in women and men, often associated with high symptom burden and significant limitations in daily functioning, frequent comorbidities, chronic course of illness, and even high mortality rates.” Comprehensive treatment reduces the risk of co-occurring disorders or long-term health side effects. 

What Is an Eating Disorder?

An eating disorder is a complex mental health condition impacting a person’s relationship with food and body image. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “Eating disorders involve extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors involving weight and food.” Multiple types of eating disorders exist, and a clinical assessment is necessary to ensure clients receive an accurate diagnosis. 

Many people with eating disorders have co-occurring mental or physical health conditions. Often, underlying or co-occurring conditions require simultaneous treatment to ensure successful recovery from the ED. Wisconsin Wellness provides comprehensive therapy services to support clients diagnosed with eating disorders and co-occurring conditions. The care team addresses mental health factors affecting people’s relationship with eating or body image. 

Who Is at Risk for Developing an Eating Disorder?

Anyone can develop an eating disorder regardless of gender or age. However, women have a much higher risk. According to the previously mentioned article by Frontiers in Psychiatry, “Global estimates suggest that up to 8.4% of women and 2.2% of men suffer from EDs such as Anorexia Nervosa (AN), Bulimia Nervosa (BN), or Binge-Eating Disorder (BED) during their lifetime.” 

The individuals with a high risk of EDs include: 

• Teenage girls 
• Female athletes 
• College students 
• Seniors with health conditions affecting their diet

Individuals with an increased risk of developing maladaptive eating behaviors benefit from monitoring their mental health and reaching out for support if they notice changes in appetite or eating habits. Starting treatment early makes it easier for people to avoid long-term or severe health side effects. The warning signs of EDs vary depending on the type of disorder. 

What Are the Common Types of Eating Disorders?

Some of the most common eating disorders include: 

• Anorexia Nervosa: Individuals with anorexia nervosa restrict food and control their weight through excessive exercise, purging, and other methods.
• Bulimia Nervosa: People with bulimia nervosa binge and then purge to avoid gaining weight from overeating. 
• Binge-Eating Disorder: Individuals with binge-eating disorder experience lapses in control while eating and often binge without being able to stop.
• Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder: People severely restrict the types of food they allow themselves to eat, sometimes causing malnutrition and other health conditions.  

More nuanced forms of disordered eating exist. In addition, some people may experience more than one type of eating disorder at different times in their lives. Each type of eating disorder requires different treatments to address the underlying factors and active symptoms. 

What Causes Eating Disorders?

Researchers have determined multiple factors may contribute to the development of disordered eating. Some potential risk factors for developing EDs include: 

• Low self-esteem
• Substance abuse 
• Chronic stress 
• Social pressure and stigmas surrounding weight or body image
• Chronic dieting 
• Genetics
• Difficulty regulation emotions 
• Perfectionism
• Relationship conflict 
• Mental health disorders 

Medical, social, environmental, and genetic factors may cause eating disorders. People with an increased risk of developing eating disorders can take preventative measures to avoid maladaptive eating routines or behaviors. Learning to identify the signs of EDs allows people to recognize when to seek treatment or medical support for disordered eating. 

What Are the Symptoms of Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders manifest differently for everyone. Some individuals report debilitating symptoms, while others might only experience mild side effects. The warning signs and symptoms of EDs vary significantly depending on the type of disorder.

Some primary symptoms of eating disorders include: 

• Dramatic weight loss or gain 
• Gastrointestinal discomfort
• An unhealthy relationship with food or body image 
• Inability to control maladaptive eating behaviors 
• Health conditions caused by bingeing, purging, or food restriction 
• Emotional distress caused by unhealthy eating habits 

The cause of an ED impacts the symptoms and potential side effects people experience. Often, co-occurring mental health disorders contribute to the type of symptoms a person experiences. For example, individuals with co-occurring body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) may restrict food, lose significant amounts of weight, excessively exercise, and have a negative self-image. 

The Role of Personalized Therapy in Effective Treatment

Eating disorders are often persistent. Tailored care plans provide the best outcomes by ensuring clients receive the right level of support. According to World Psychiatry, “Eating disorders are challenging and difficult to treat, because of the necessity of a multidisciplinary treatment team for effective outcomes and the high mortality rate of anorexia nervosa.” Wisconsin Wellness prioritizes client safety and comfort by providing personalized care plans and mental health support. 

Eating Disorder Treatment: Know Your Options

Wisconsin Wellness offers comprehensive care for clients with complex mental health disorders. Clinicians and support staff understand the importance of client-centered care. Each client is educated on the available treatment services and what to expect from each stage of the program. Most people with EDs have a decreased stress tolerance. Clinicians at Wisconsin Wellness collaborate closely with clients, their outside care team, and their loved ones to reduce stress and ensure they know their treatment options. The care team considers all factors impacting a client’s diet and ability to engage in treatment. Clinicians work with the client’s primary care provider or other members of their support system to ensure consistent treatment. 

Some of the most effective treatment options for addressing EDs include: 

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and other forms of talk therapy 
• Individual therapy
• Group therapy
• Nutritional counseling 
• Family therapy
• Peer support groups 
• Complementary therapies 

Clinicians guide clients through the process of developing a more healthy relationship with their bodies, food, and eating. Everyone has a different healing journey. The clinical team at Wisconsin Wellness provides clients with the tools to build healthy coping strategies and skills.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: A Core Approach

Talk therapy is the primary treatment for addressing eating disorders and distorted body image. CBT provides clients with healthy coping skills and emotional support. According to Psychiatric Clinics of North America, “[T]he core psychopathology of eating disorders, the overevaluation of shape and weight, is cognitive in nature,” and “it is widely accepted that CBT is the treatment of choice for bulimia nervosa and there is evidence that it is as effective with cases of ‘eating disorder not otherwise specified’ (eating disorder NOS), the most common eating disorder diagnosis.” 

During CBT sessions, clients do the following: 

• Identify maladaptive core beliefs and replace them with a healthy alternative
• Learn effective and practical coping mechanisms for avoiding harmful or unwanted behaviors 
• Explore thoughts and beliefs about themselves, their body image, appearance, food, exercise habits, and sense of self-worth
• Build strategies for avoiding self-harming behaviors, including excessive exercise, food restriction, or purging 

Clinicians work at the client’s pace to ensure people feel comfortable and confident in their ability to develop a healthy relationship with food. 

Nutritional Counseling Services: Building Healthier Habits

Individuals with EDs may have unhealthy, subjective, or inaccurate beliefs about food, eating, and body image. A registered nutritionist or dietician can provide objective facts about food, eating, and overall wellness. 

Nutritional counseling assists clients in doing the following: 

• Learning to identify and trust body signals, including hunger and fullness cues 
• Creating personalized diets and meal schedules to ensure clients eat balanced and nutritional meals 
• Learning to identify healthy portion sizes and the essential nutrients of each food group

A nutritionist provides advice and guidance on a wide range of topics affecting people diagnosed with EDs. Counseling sessions are tailored to each client’s needs and preferences to ensure their concerns and goals remain the focus of each educational session. 

Eating Disorder Awareness and Recovery

Despite the prevalence of eating disorders in the United States, many people remain unaware of what EDs are and the available treatment options. Community services often fall short, leaving individuals and families struggling to find support. Peer-led support groups are a cornerstone of continuing care for many people with EDs. Eating disorders cannot be magically “cured,” but they are successfully managed in the long term. Peer support is a critical part of treatment and managing symptoms.

Support groups offer people the following: 

• A nonjudgmental space to express and explore various thoughts, beliefs, and ideas 
• Positive social interactions
• A safe place to find motivation and accountability for maintaining healthy habits 

Self-help groups are often used alongside evidence-based treatments to provide a solid foundation of support for clients healing from the effects of EDs. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Eating Disorders

Eating disorders have become more common. However, many people do not know how to recognize or treat EDs. Wisconsin Wellness educates clients and their loved ones on the realities of disordered eating. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about EDs. 

How Is an Eating Disorder Diagnosed?

Eating disorders cannot be self-diagnosed. A clinical assessment and diagnosis are essential to ensure people receive the best treatment. To get a proper diagnosis, clients undergo an assessment and provide clinicians with details about their condition, medical history, and recovery goals. The evaluation may take 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the case’s complexity. Clinicians at Wisconsin Wellness can provide referrals to ED treatment programs for individuals diagnosed with eating disorders. 

How Do You Know If You Have an Eating Disorder?

Some people believe any unusual eating habits or routines indicate the presence of an eating disorder. However, there is no “normal” way of approaching diet. Everyone has religious, cultural, medical, or personal beliefs influencing what they eat and their relationship with food. Individuals who experience significant and persistent emotional or physical distress due to disordered eating benefit from undergoing a screening for EDs. 

Eating disorders are dangerous and complex. Wisconsin Wellness uses evidence-based therapies and personalized care plans to treat EDs and co-occurring conditions. To learn more about our programs and services, call us today at (920) 404-2100.