We understand that many people have complicated relationships with food, and that each person’s individual life events, beliefs, genetics, and brain chemistry plays a role in their experience. We also recognize that eating disorder treatment is about so much more than just the food.
Eating disorder treatment at Focus utilizes a whole-person approach. That means our treatment plans are not only tailored to each person’s specific needs but also take into account more than just physical well-being. Our overall healing process is framed with both traditional and therapeutic techniques that address physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness.
Our nutrition program is rooted in the belief that food is medicine and that all foods fit. Safe and effective nourishment is a critical part of the recovery process, and we honor every person’s specific needs through our whole-person approach and customized nutrition planning.
Our dietary and culinary teams work collaboratively to design meals and snacks that incorporate balance and variety. Along with structured meal planning, every patient participates in scheduled meals and snacks, also taking part in experiential activities that address eating disorder behaviors. By educating patients about food and dispelling food myths, we encourage healthy interactions with food and promote enjoyable eating experiences.
Our evidence-based nutrition program’s framework focuses on:
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From residential care to outpatient nutrition counseling, we offer a variety of eating disorder treatment options to best meet the specific needs of each person in our care. We understand that many people deal with underlying obstacles and struggles surrounding food. As such, we work one-on-one with our patients to safely uncover those complex issues through proven therapeutic techniques, real-world experiences, and by using food as medicine.
Often referred to as just anorexia, this is an eating disorder characterized by abnormally low body weight, a distorted perception of weight and body image, and an intense, often debilitating fear of gaining weight. Individuals who struggle with this condition find self worth in body image and place a high value on controlling their weight, using extreme measures that interfere with overall health as well as their everyday lives.
An eating disorder characterized by extremely selective eating. People who struggle with this condition sometimes don’t want to eat, worry that something bad might happen to them– like choking, getting poisoned, or dying– if they do eat, avoid foods based on color, taste, texture, or smell, and might only eat foods in ultra-specific ways like in a certain order.
A serious eating disorder that involves the frequent consumption of unusually large amounts of food and a feeling of being unable to stop eating. This goes beyond occasional overeating, crossing a line into excessive overeating that feels out of control. It becomes a compulsive behavior that is difficult to stop without treatment.
A mental illness characterized by an obsession over a perceived defect or flaw in one’s personal appearance. A particular feature, such as the nose, hair, or skin, may be viewed as problematic and becomes overwhelming. This obsession can sometimes be about the slightest imperfection, and may even be completely imagined. Symptoms can include hallucinations or drastic attempts to fix the perceived flaw, and can even manifest as an eating disorder like anorexia or bulimia.
Often referred to as just bulimia, this is a serious and sometimes life-threatening eating disorder. People who struggle with this condition often secretly binge, consuming large amounts of food with a loss of self control over their eating, then purging to avoid the extra calories. Different methods are used to avoid weight gain including self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or weight loss supplements, as well as strict dieting and excessive exercise.
A combination of the terms diabetes and bulimia, this is an eating disorder involving the deliberate administration of insufficient insulin for the purpose of weight loss. In addition to withholding insulin, people with Type 1 diabetes who struggle with this condition sometimes also have other disordered eating behaviors such as purging or unhealthy eating patterns.
Disorders that are very similar to defined eating disorders but do not fully meet the criteria for official diagnosis. Of course, this doesn’t make these disorders any less harmful to the people who deal with them. OSFED-classified eating disorders may present with symptoms and behaviors consistent with Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, or Binge Eating Disorder.
A type of disordered eating characterized by an extreme fixation on “healthy” eating– one so severe it interferes with daily life. People who struggle with this may be overly obsessed with checking nutrition labels and ingredients to ensure “clean eating” habits and are known to cut out entire food groups if perceived as unhealthy. When they persist, these behaviors can result in malnutrition as well as severe anxiety.
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Get helpful information through our most frequently asked questions about eating disorders, or get in touch with our team to talk through any concerns you may have.
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When changing course, the first step is often the hardest. We’re here to help you take that first step and support you along the way.
