Eating Disorder Treatment

Elements Eating Disorder Treatment Programs: The Ranch

The most highly publicized accounts of eating disorders are often about anorexic Hollywood stars. The media speculates about their extremely thin physiques and what they are doing to achieve that look. However, there is still much ignorance about numerous other eating disorders and the fact that these devastating disorders impact about 8 million Americans. It is estimated that nearly 15 percent of all young women have some type of eating disorder. These staggering numbers show the need for better public education about eating disorders and more access to effective treatment.

Anorexia nervosa is the most well known eating disorder. Anorexia is identified by low body weight and a sense of a distorted body image. Those with anorexia essentially starve themselves to stay unnaturally thin. They often try numerous fad diet gimmicks or use drugs (from water pills to crystal meth) to induce rapid weight loss. Excessive exercise is often common.

Anorexia is an eating disorder with many psychological components: a fear of being fat, preoccupation with body size, and obsessive behavior related to food. Anorexia nervosa leads to life-threatening complications such as organ damage, heart problems, and long-term bone damage.

Bulimia nervosa is the other most common eating disorder, sometimes called binge-purge syndrome. A person with bulimia will often eat as much as possible at a single setting, sometimes thousands of calories. The typical bulimic then purges the food by inducing vomiting. Bulimics may also show symptoms of anorexia and use laxatives, drink very little water, excessively exercise, and refuse to eat anything until the next binge-purge episode.

Treatment for bulimia has psychological components, as the bulimic needs to learn to accept his or her normal body weight and to control the urges to binge and purge. Because those with bulimia often make enormous efforts to hide their purging behavior, it can be difficult to detect. They may eat in secret then quietly go off to purge their food. Bulimia sufferers usually appear as normal-weight. When in public, they may appear to eat normally.

Other eating disorders that occur are compulsive overeating, overexercise, night eating syndrome (NES), orthorexia, and pregorexia. There are also a number of disorders classified as Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS).

Elements offers exceptional treatment for eating disorders at The Ranch in Tenneesee. The program includes extended care treatment for women 18 and older who struggle with bulimia, anorexia, over-eating, binge/purge, restricting and related issues.

The highly skilled clinical staff at The Ranch have expertise in eating disorders and co-occurring addictive disorders. No more than eight women are in residence at one time so that clients receive individual attention and customized treatment plans.

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