8 Goals of Eating Disorder Treatment
by Emily Costa
Eating disorder treatment programs aim to address both the physical and psychological aspects of these complex conditions. The primary goal is to restore general health by normalizing eating habits and promoting a balanced relationship with food. Simultaneously, these programs also target any underlying mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, or low self-esteem that may be feeding the disorder.
Embarking on this journey towards recovery can, initially, feel overwhelming. You may encounter numerous treatment options and it may seem daunting to determine the best course of action. During these challenging moments, it's essential to remember the ultimate point of these efforts: to reclaim your health, well-being, and autonomy from the clutches of the eating disorder.
Understanding what the goals of treatment are can help you feel more confident in choosing a path that feels right for you. Read on to learn more about 8 goals of eating disorder treatment.
Why Treatment is Necessary
Eating disorders are serious medical conditions characterized by abnormal eating habits and severe distress about one's body weight or shape. These disorders, which include Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge-Eating Disorder, ARFID or Orthorexia, can substantially impair a person's physical health and disrupt their overall functioning and well-being. Early intervention is crucial as it can reduce the risk of physical health problems, improve quality of life, and increase the chances of a full recovery.
Treatment programs become necessary when an individual's eating behaviors severely impact their physical health and daily functioning, or when self-managed recovery attempts have not been successful. The persistence of such behaviors, despite their negative consequences, underscores the necessity of comprehensive treatment programs.
What if I’m Not ‘Sick Enough’?
Let’s take a moment to address a very common thought you may feel when considering help.
“What if I’m not sick enough?”
The 'sick enough' phenomenon in eating disorders often involves individuals feeling they aren't ill enough to seek treatment, potentially delaying recovery. It's crucial to challenge this misconception: every struggle is valid, no matter its perceived severity. The only thing that matters is if your life is being overshadowed by concerns about food, weight and your body. Period.
8 Goals of Eating Disorder Treatment
When you feel unsure about what step to take, understanding what you may get out of treatment can help you feel empowered about making a choice. Below we will delve into 8 essential goals of eating disorder treatment programs such as Residential Programs and Intensive Outpatient Programs.
Let’s dive in!
1. Medical & Psychological Stabilization
The initial goal of any eating disorder treatment program is stabilization. This objective involves addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of the disorder. In many instances, individuals struggling with eating disorders may also be grappling with co-occurring disorders, such as bipolar disorder or depression, which further complicates their health scenario. As such, appropriate treatment that may include medication for these conditions is an integral part of the stabilization process.
Additionally, the stabilization phase also focuses on addressing any immediate medical concerns arising from the disorder, such as malnutrition, electrolyte imbalances, or heart issues. Most treatment centers will require a medical clearance to begin treatment, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the individual's physical health is stable and safe enough to begin the therapeutic process. If a person is unable to obtain this clearance due to severe health issues, the treatment center will assist in finding appropriate medical resources to stabilize their condition. This assistance may involve facilitating admission to a hospital or a specialized medical unit designed to provide the necessary acute care. After ensuring physical health is stabilized, the individual can continue on their journey of recovery from the eating disorder.
2. Nutritional Rehabilitation
The second goal in the treatment of eating disorders focuses on nutrition therapy and establishing normal eating patterns. Many treatment centers adhere to working towards an intuitive eating and mindful eating approach, guiding clients to understand their body's hunger and satiety cues and fostering a non-judgmental approach to food.
A registered dietitian plays a crucial role in this process, working with clients both individually and in group settings to dispel nutrition myths and misconceptions that often fuel eating disorders. The primary goal in treatment is to establish a regular eating schedule consisting of three balanced meals and three nourishing snacks each day. This structured regimen discourages erratic eating behaviors such as restricting, binging, and purging, gradually replacing them with healthier, more balanced habits. The dietitian, in partnership with the client, creates a personalized meal plan that takes into account the client's nutritional needs, food preferences, and recovery goals. This hands-on, practical approach fosters a more balanced relationship with food, where nourishment and pleasure can coexist without guilt or fear. Ultimately, the objective of nutritional rehabilitation is to empower clients with the knowledge and tools they need to make peace with food and sustain their recovery journey.
3. Understanding the Function of the Eating Disorder
The third goal in the treatment of eating disorders is to identify the function and purpose of these behaviors. It is important to recognize that an individual's struggle with an eating disorder is not solely about food or weight. Instead, these disorders often serve as coping mechanisms for underlying social and psychological stress.
For example, an individual may resort to restrictive eating to regain a sense of control amid feelings of helplessness or chaos in their personal life. Similarly, binge eating might be a response to emotional distress, serving as a temporary distraction from negative emotions or traumatic experiences.
Therefore, uncovering the deep-seated meanings and purposes behind these eating behaviors is a critical step in treatment. This process involves extensive therapeutic work to unravel the intricate web of issues contributing to the eating disorder. Therapists guide clients to explore their emotional triggers, body image concerns, self-esteem issues, and interpersonal difficulties, among other areas. By identifying and addressing these underlying problems, clients can start to develop healthier coping strategies and move towards a path of sustainable recovery.
4. Skill-Building
In tandem with goal three, the fourth goal in the treatment of eating disorders is skill building, essential for maintaining progress made during treatment and preventing relapse.
This phase emphasizes learning new, healthier coping mechanisms to replace harmful disordered eating behaviors. The skills taught could encompass a variety of areas including stress management, emotional regulation, self-care, assertiveness, and interpersonal communication. For instance, a client may learn mindfulness techniques to handle stress or anxiety instead of resorting to binge eating or purging.
Therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) are commonly used in this phase. CBT helps individuals identify and change unhealthy thought patterns that contribute to their eating disorder. DBT focuses on accepting uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, or behaviors rather than struggling with them, and IPT fosters improvement in the quality of interpersonal relationships.
In essence, the goal of skill building is to equip individuals with a 'toolbox' of coping strategies, enabling them to navigate life's challenges without falling back into disordered eating patterns.
5. Support Network
The fifth goal in the treatment of eating disorders is to build a robust support network. This is vital as it provides a safe and supportive environment to navigate their recovery journey, particularly after treatment.
Some treatment programs actively involve the family unit, recognizing its profound influence on the recovery process. By including family members in therapy sessions, this aims to foster understanding, empathy, and effective communication within the family, thus promoting a nurturing home environment conducive to recovery.
Treatment programs will also help clients integrate well with their milieu and fellow clients in treatment, thereby fostering a sense of camaraderie and mutual support that often precedes well beyond the walls of a treatment facility.
In therapy you may work on identifying critical relationships in your life and work on strengthening these connections. This could involve establishing healthy boundaries, improving communication, or resolving conflicts, all aimed at nurturing relationships that can provide enduring support in life post-treatment. Essentially, building a healthy support network equips individuals with a strong foundation of emotional support and accountability, instrumental in maintaining long-term recovery from eating disorders.
6. Making Lifestyle Changes
The sixth goal in treating eating disorders focuses on aiding clients in making transformative changes to their daily lives. This is particularly crucial for those in outpatient programs like Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) or those transitioning from inpatient or residential treatments back into their regular routines.
The treatment team works in collaboration with clients to devise feasible strategies for healthy reintegration. The aim is to create a balanced lifestyle that supports the client’s recovery journey, reducing triggers that could potentially derail progress.
For instance, if school or work pressure has been a significant source of stress, the client might consider taking fewer classes or seeking a job with a more flexible schedule. The treatment team plays an instrumental role in facilitating this process, providing guidance, support, and resources to help the client make these changes. Their collaborative approach ensures the client feels empowered and involved in their recovery process, rather than being passive recipients of care. The ultimate objective is to foster a sustainable, recovery-oriented lifestyle, where the client can maintain their progress even in the face of life's everyday challenges.
7. After-care Planning & Relapse Prevention
The seventh goal in treating eating disorders involves comprehensive aftercare planning and relapse prevention. This crucial phase ensures that a person is not left unprepared after the treatment program ends. A meticulous aftercare plan typically involves setting up follow-up therapy appointments, scheduling regular check-ins with a dietitian or physician, and arranging support group meetings if deemed beneficial. This proactive approach ensures continuous support and care, mitigating the risk of feeling overwhelmed or isolated post-treatment.
Relapse prevention is a critical component of aftercare planning. This personalized plan is developed in collaboration with the client and their treatment team before discharge. It includes identifying potential triggers that might lead to a relapse, outlining practical coping strategies, and setting up a clear action plan if relapse symptoms appear. This might involve reaching out to specific support people or contacting their treatment team for immediate intervention.
The objective of relapse prevention is not to merely prevent a return to old behaviors but to equip individuals with the skills and confidence to manage challenges proactively. By fostering self-awareness, resilience, and coping skills, the plan empowers individuals to maintain their recovery journey, even in the face of life's inevitable hurdles.
8. believing that full recovery is possible
The overarching goal in treating eating disorders is to empower clients with the belief that recovery is not only possible but achievable. This conviction forms the bedrock of their journey towards a healthier life—a life free from the shackles of disordered eating. The treatment process aims to instill the understanding that a rich, meaningful, and fulfilling life is within their grasp, not merely as an abstract concept, but as a tangible reality. By fostering this mindset, individuals are encouraged to pursue recovery, secure in the belief that a healthier, more rewarding life awaits beyond their disorder.
Embarking on the road to recovery from an eating disorder can often feel daunting. However, it's crucial to remember that you don't have to navigate this journey alone.
At ‘Ai Pono, our approachable admissions team is always ready to assist you with any inquiries and guide you through this process. From clarifying treatment options to addressing concerns, we are committed to making your journey towards recovery as smooth as possible. The first step might seem challenging, but rest assured, we're here for you every step of the way. Reach out today.
Emily Costa
Having struggled with an eating disorder herself, Emily is passionate about spreading awareness, education and the possibility of recovery with others. Emily previously volunteered as a Crisis Text Line counselor and with the eating disorder non-profit Project HEAL where she served as their blog manager, their NYC Chapter Leader & a recovery mentor in their Communities of HEALing pilot program completing training by the Carolyn Costin Institute. Emily now enjoys working with various treatment centers, clinicians and non-profits in the eating disorder community providing marketing and design services. In her free time she enjoys spending time with friends, hanging with her dogs, and reading a book at the beach.