Key Points: Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are a serious illness that can have lasting effects on physical and mental health. Other key points include:
- Risk factors for eating disorders can include genetics, early life trauma, perfectionism and body dissatisfaction.
- Thinness or avoidance of food are not the only symptoms of eating disorders, and symptoms can include eating an excessive amount of food, eating only ‘clean’ foods and compensating for food intake.
- People with eating disorders can be a range of sizes, weights and body shapes.
- Long-term consequences of eating disorders can include heart problems, digestive issues and poor bone health.
- Eating disorders tend to emerge for the first time during adolescence and are generally more common among women than men.
- Eating disorders can often co-occur with substance use disorders.
Seeking treatment for an eating disorder and co-occurring substance use disorder is important for improving long-term health outcomes. Treatment often includes therapy and medication when appropriate, and it should be tailored to the needs of the individual in order to best support recovery.
If you or a loved one may be suffering from an eating disorder, reach out to our expert mental health care team at Baptist Health to begin treatment today. If you believe you or a loved one are struggling with a co-occurring eating disorder and addiction, contact us at The Recovery Village Palm Beach at Baptist Health to begin your road to recovery.
- Sources
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