Prior to the 1980s, women and teens who struggled with food, fat and dieting issues, or more serious eating disorders, had few choices for treatment in the islands. The Anorexia and Bulimia Center of Hawaii (ABC) was co-founded by Dr. Anita Johnston in 1982. ABC became an information resource center as well as a treatment center designed for women and teens. The Center's staff consists of a variety of professionals working together to provide individualized treatment for eating disorders.
At the center of the ABC philosophy is the psychology of women and the importance of women following their own inner guidance. The staff of ABC help women to recognize and honor their feelings, intuition, and the innate wisdom of their bodies.
Through ABC women can learn to eat for physical rather than emotional reasons and discover how foods can act as metaphors for deeper issues. They can re-envision a new body image and create new relationships with food and their bodies, in essence, becoming more aware, balanced and whole.
ABC offers individual therapy, group therapy, psycho-educational workshops, and public speaking. Treatment coverage is available through HMSA and other insurance carriers, as well as on a sliding scale.