Eating Disorders
If food, weight, and body image have taken over your life, you know this isn't about willpower or vanity. Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions—and they're treatable. Recovery is possible.
Understanding Eating Disorders
Eating disorders involve persistent disturbances in eating behavior and related thoughts and emotions. They're driven by complex interactions between biological, psychological, and social factors.
Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Other eating disorders also carry serious health consequences. All require specialized treatment—and the earlier treatment begins, the better the outcomes.
At BBI, we understand eating disorders and the complex factors that drive them. We also recognize that eating disorders often overlap with OCD, anxiety, and body dysmorphic disorder. This gives us a unique perspective on treatment.
Anorexia Nervosa
What is Anorexia Nervosa?
Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by significantly low body weight, restriction of food intake, ongoing behavior related to an intense fear of gaining weight, and a disturbance in self-perceived weight or shape. There are two types of anorexia nervosa – the restricting type, in which weight loss is achieved by restricting food intake and/or excessive exercise, and the binge-eating/purging type, in which the individual engages in recurrent episodes of binge eating or purging behavior.
Binge eating
What is Binge Eating Disorder?
Binge-Eating Disorder is characterized by episodes in which an individual eats an excessive amount of food relative to what others would eat in that time period. Additionally, the person feels a lack of control over their food-intake behavior during these episodes.
Bulimia Nervosa
What is Bulimia Nervosa?
Bulimia Nervosa is diagnosed in individuals who demonstrate recurrent episodes of binge eating, marked or sustained dietary restrictions as well as behaviors designed to prevent weight gain, and self-evaluation that is disproportionately influenced by body weight and shape.
When Eating Disorders Overlap with Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Eating disorders and BDD share some features—both involve distress about the body—but they're distinct conditions. Eating disorders focus on weight, shape, and food-related behaviors. BDD focuses on specific perceived appearance flaws (facial features, skin, hair) not related to weight.
A person can have both conditions, requiring integrated treatment. At BBI, we have deep expertise in BDD and understand how it overlaps with eating disorders. When both conditions are present, we address them together.
Recovery is possible
Eating disorders are serious—but they're treatable. A consultation helps you understand what's happening and what treatment options are available.
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How We Treat Eating Disorders
Eating disorder treatment at BBI is individualized, evidence-based, and addresses the psychological drivers of disordered eating.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): The leading evidence-based treatment for bulimia and binge eating disorder. CBT addresses the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that maintain eating disorder symptoms.
Exposure-Based Interventions: Gradually facing feared foods, eating situations, and body-related experiences.
DBT Skills: Emotion regulation and distress tolerance skills to manage the intense feelings that often trigger eating disorder behaviors.
Addressing Co-occurring Conditions: Many people with eating disorders also have OCD, anxiety, depression, or BDD. We treat the whole picture. Medical coordination ensures comprehensive care.
When to seek professional help
Reach out if any of these feel familiar.
Food and Weight Control
You're spending significant time thinking about food, weight, and body image. Eating behaviors are disrupting your daily life and relationships.
Physical Health Concerns
You're experiencing physical symptoms related to eating patterns—digestive issues, weakness, fatigue, or medical complications.
Cycles You Can't Control
You're caught in cycles of restriction, bingeing, or purging despite wanting to stop. Willpower hasn't worked.
Related Blog Posts
ARFID is more than picky eating. Learn the signs, causes, and evidence-based treatments for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder in children and teens.
Thanksgiving is often portrayed as a celebration of gratitude, with individuals having a chance to connect and celebrate with their families or friends. However, it can also represent one of the most challenging times of the year for individuals struggling with disordered eating symptoms. The cultural emphasis on food, portion sizes, and social eating can intensify anxiety, guilt, and body image distress that are associated with eating disorders (EDs).
Learn how OCD and BDD make holiday gatherings harder, why food and body image distress intensifies during the season, and how ERP treatment can help you reclaim the holidays.
You can experience life again. Let’s take steps together.
At Bio Behavioral Institute, we’re here to be your team and get you back to the life you deserve. Schedule your consultation and take the first step towards a more meaningful life.
Call our office at 516-487-7116 or complete the form to schedule your consultation.