Disordered Eating
Disordered eating disrupts physical health, emotional well-being, and daily life, often co-occurring with other mental health conditions and compounding symptoms and distress.
Disordered eating refers to problematic thoughts and behaviors around food, body image, and weight — including everything from rigid rules to cycles of restriction and bingeing, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). These patterns can be medically risky and may develop into a severe eating disorder.
Clearview Treatment Centers in Los Angeles offers evidence-based, multidisciplinary care that addresses both physical health and the psychological drivers of disordered eating. We help clients develop effective long-term strategies to manage their symptoms alongside any co-occurring disorders, enabling them to regain stability and independence.
About Clearview
Ages Treated
Adults of all genders (18+)
Payments Accepted
Commercial insurance (in-network and out-of-network), self pay
Medicare/Medicaid
Not accepted
Key Info
Disordered Eating
Definition
Recurring thoughts and behaviors around food, weight, and body image that cause distress or get in the way of daily life can be signs of disordered eating. While not meeting the full criteria for an eating disorder, this condition can still include rigid rules, skipping meals, restriction and bingeing, or trying to “make up for” eating with vomiting, laxatives, or over-exercise.
Eating disorders themselves are common — roughly 1 in 100 individuals experience anorexia, about 1 in 100 have bulimia, and around 3 in 100 fit the criteria for binge-eating disorder at some point — and disordered eating behaviors are even more widespread. Anyone can be affected, at any size, age, gender, or background. Higher risk is seen with dieting or weight stigma, perfectionism, high-pressure sports, trauma history, and genetic or family vulnerability.
Diagnosis is made by a qualified clinician who reviews medical status and eating patterns, rules out other causes, and checks for complications. Early help improves health and recovery.
Signs + symptoms
Because those dealing with disordered eating don’t meet all the criteria for a single eating disorder, spotting the condition can be difficult. Still, there are warning signs.
Symptoms of disordered eating include:
- Preoccupation with food and/or weight
- Body dissatisfaction
- Rigid food rules, frequent dieting
- Cycles of restriction and bingeing
- Compensatory behaviors (vomiting, laxatives, over-exercise)
- Dizziness, fainting, GI complaints, menstrual irregularities, dental erosion
Source: NIMH
Risk factors
Common risk factors for disordered eating include:
- Dieting/weight stigma
- Perfectionism
- Trauma or co-occurring anxiety/mood disorders
- Family history
Eating disorders + co-occurring addiction
For a variety of reasons, individuals with one or more mental health disorders are more likely to develop a substance use disorder than those without the condition. This may be due to an increased tendency to self-medicate or structural changes in the brain that make individuals with the condition more susceptible.
Drug or alcohol dependency can make the symptoms of disordered eating worse and may trigger symptoms when an individual is otherwise stable. Substance use can also significantly complicate the diagnosis and treatment processes. To effectively address disordered eating when co-occurring addiction is present, both conditions must be addressed simultaneously within an integrated treatment plan.
Treatment
A multidisciplinary treatment approach is most effective in addressing disordered eating behaviors. This includes a combination of:
- Psychotherapy (talk therapy)
- Dietitian-led nutrition rehabilitation and meal support with exposure to feared foods/situations
- Social/peer support
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Co-occurring disorders treatment (dual diagnosis)
- Mindfulness-based interventions
- Family therapy and support groups can be critical to the long-term management of schizoaffective disorder. Family programs can help educate families on the symptoms and challenges of the disorder and provide them with tools and resources for supporting their loved one. Likewise, social support groups offer a social outlet and community where individuals can share their experiences and hold one another accountable.
If you’re struggling with disordered eating, you’re not alone. Contact us to learn more about our mental health treatment programs at 323.402.1622.
Treatment for Disordered Eating at Clearview
The stress of disordered eating experienced by both the affected individual and their loved ones can take a long-term toll on the health, happiness, and quality of life for everyone involved. The professional team at Clearview Treatment Centers integrates DBT, CBT, ACT, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and family programming as appropriate.
Clearview Treatment Centers helps individuals with disordered eating take long-term steps towards healing and stability. We work with our clients to find the best combination of therapies and resources to address their symptoms so they can thrive in their communities.
We offer residential and outpatient programs that address the symptoms, behaviors, and challenges faced by those dealing with disordered eating and co-occurring mental health or substance use disorders. Our individualized treatment approach combines evidence-based therapies, mind/body therapies, and family programming to give our clients the best chance at sustained recovery and full participation in society.
How We Treat
All of our clinicians are extensively trained in incomprehensive dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and many are DBT-Linehan Board Certified. In addition to DBT, our clinicians are certified in various evidence-backed therapies, including:
Our Treatment Programs
Addiction with Co-occurring Mental Health
Women's Mental Health
Gender-Inclusive Mental Health
Clearview Treatment Programs
Outpatient Treatment
Our outpatient programs help clients with mental health disorders maintain a structured treatment routine while providing them with a higher level of independence in their lives. Clearview offers both partial hospitalization programs (PHP) and intensive outpatient programs (IOP) that can be tailored to each client’s unique symptoms, challenges, and needs.