Eating Disorder Clinic

An eating disorder clinic is a medical facility that can help clients diagnosed with an eating disorder by regaining control over food, eating, weight, body image and improving self-esteem. An eating disorder clinic can treat all of the main eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia and binge-eating disorder.

Eating disorder clinics often will have services to treat other diagnosis, which frequently occurs with eating disorders. This dual diagnosis can include depression, anxiety or substance abuse.

If you or someone you love is suffering from an eating disorder and substance abuse, SubstanceAbuse.com can help. Call our toll-free hotline at 1-800-763-1562 today, and let our specialists guide you to the eating disorder clinic that can help.

Eating Disorder Symptoms

Eating disorder clinics must deal with an array of symptoms, which vary greatly depending on the particular disorder. Anorexia is characterized by an extreme constriction to food intake, while bulimia involves a loss of control over eating and subsequent purging of those calories. Binge-eating disorder, which effects up to 5 percent of Americans, involves consuming large amounts of food, without purging.

If considering eating disorder treatment, some symptoms may include:

• Extreme weight gain or weight loss
• Restricting food intake or losing control over eating
• Overall weakness and extremely low weight
• Eating alone or in secret
• Eating until overfull
• Exercising excessively

Eating Disorders and Drug Use

When seeking treatment at an eating disorder clinic, it is important to understand that eating disorders cause low self-esteem and along with it, extreme emotions of guilt, shame, loneliness and sadness.

Sometimes, clients entering an eating disorder treatment program are suffering from a co-occurring substance abuse disorder involving drugs or alcohol. Clients may choose to use substances to help alleviate the emotions he or she is feeling due to the eating disorder.

In other instances an eating disorder clinic will uncover that the drug abuse began first, and the eating disorder followed. For example, abusing a stimulant like cocaine or crystal meth can cause weight loss, a lack of nutrition and an extreme constriction of food intake.

Eating Disorder Clinics

An eating disorder clinic can be found within a hospital system, in an outpatient clinic, or in a residential facility. An eating disorder clinic in a hospital setting is recommended for clients with extreme physical complications due to their illness, or clients that have been previously hospitalized.

Outpatient eating disorder clinics allow clients to attend therapy sessions and meetings while maintaining his or her individual residence. Such eating disorder clinics are recommended for clients with a strong support system and stable living environment.

A residential eating disorder clinic offers 24 hour care like hospital settings, and are often less expensive. Residential eating disorder clinics often offer structured programs to help clients transition back to daily life, and include aftercare programs.

No matter what type of eating disorder clinic program you are looking for, SubstanceAbuse.com can help. Call 1-800-763-1562 today, and learn how to overcome substance abuse and eating disorders.