Worried you or a loved one may have an eating disorder?
Who we help
We treat children, teens, and adults in all 50 states. Our providers are trained to treat all eating disorder diagnoses, as well as co-occurring conditions like anxiety, depression, and OCD.
Eating disorders facts
29M Americans will be affected by an eating disorder in their lifetime¹5.5M
are affected by an eating disorder every year*¹
77%
do not receive treatment²
10,200
deaths each year due to eating disorders¹
What causes eating disorders?The answer is complex and often unclear—but if you get the right treatment, knowing the cause is not important.
Eating disorders have biological roots
Genetics, neurobiology, and psychological factors play into these multifaceted mental illnesses.
Something needs to “turn on” the illness
If someone's brain is predisposed, an eating disorder can be triggered by environmental factors. There are many triggers, but a common one is dieting: when someone burns more calories than they eat, a switch flips in the brain, and the eating disorder takes control.
Eating disorders are coping mechanisms
Disordered behaviors serve a purpose for the person struggling. Restricting, bingeing, purging, and other behaviors help them regulate or control difficult emotions.
Environment matters
While eating disorders are brain disorders, our society and culture create an environment in which triggers are more abundant and recovery more difficult. Diet culture, social media, the pandemic, and more play a role.
Tips for talking to a loved one about an eating disorder
Ask if they’re comfortable having a conversation
Share specific observations that have you concerned
Emphasize that you are here to listen
What to consider when seeking treatment
Which eating disorder specialists are
in-network with your health insurance?
Are there immediate health impacts of the eating disorder that need to be addressed? What’s the best strategy for treating them?
What kind of experience do the treatment professionals have?
How long have they specialized in eating disorders?
What role will friends, family, and other loved ones play in the treatment process?
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*Data based on 2018-2019 projections
- Deloitte Access Economics. (2020). The social and economic cost of eating disorders in the United States of America: A report for the Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders and the Academy for Eating Disorders. Retrieved from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/striped/report-economic-costs-of-eating-disorders
- Hart, L., Granillo, M., Jorm, A., & Paxton, S. (2011). Unmet need for treatment in the eating disorders. Clinical Psychology Review, 31(5).