• Evaluation prior to being placed in an Eating Disorder (ED) Program is vital.
  •  In the past, it was common to diagnose a patient for one issue, while paying no mind to another that may have worked in conjunction to it. 
  • In more recent times, however, it has been hypothesized that chemical dependency and eating disorders may have a correlation, thus increasing information on the topics, and conversely- reducing the number of cases which go improperly diagnosed as simply being one or the other. 
    • In a study it was found that “nearly half of 73 eating disorder relapse patients had a previous chemical dependency (Peck).” 
• There is a wide range of variables that are taken into account when considering the onset of an eating disorder on a specific person
  • Importance of individualizing each program to each person. 
• Discuss in order of progression: the development, diagnosis, and lastly its treatment.

The Development:

• First, it is essential to address the many factors that lead to such extreme methods of dieting, which include many societal factors.
  • The romanticizing of anorexia.
    • Hornbacher  writes, “because I was not visibly sick, the very picture of sick, because I did not warrant the coveted title of Anoretic, I was embarrassed (153).”
    • In a scholarly publication, Goodwin writes that bulimics “are usually of normal body weight and display instead of successful self-starvation as in anorexia nervosa, binge eating with compensatory behavior such as vomiting or purgative abuse (249).”
    • Possible catalyst- Current stressors, biochemical predispositions, or societal predispositions- and cause the onset of an eating disorder.
      • Misconception that thinness equates wealth, success, and most importantly, happiness

Diagnosis

• The first step towards being properly diagnosed is admitting to yourself that you have an Eating Disorder.

• individual therapy
• nutritional support
• psychiatric care
•  group therapy
• outpatient
•  inpatient,
• residential