Anorexia Treatment in Los Angeles, California
Eating disorders are very serious illnesses. These conditions can affect every aspect of a person’s life, especially his or her physical and mental health. When someone is suffering from an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa, it’s imperative that that person seek out anorexia treatment. At Montare Behavioral Health, we understand how important it is to end the cycle of damage caused by anorexia. To help our patients overcome their anorexia symptoms and take control of their physical and mental health, we offer them an experienced team of medical professionals along with various forms of treatment and therapy for eating disorders.
What is Anorexia Nervosa?
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that causes obsessive worry about weight gain and body image. While some level of concern about body image and weight is healthy, people who suffer from anorexia are plagued with intrusive negative thoughts about their bodies. These thoughts are so pervasive that people with anorexia go to extreme measures to prevent weight gain or to lose weight.
Anorexia robs people of having normal relationships with food. Subsequently, people that suffer from anorexia may avoid social situations where food is involved, such as dinner parties or birthdays. The preoccupation that individuals with anorexia have with their calorie intake and weight gain can cause them to choose only low-calorie foods when they do eat. This, in turn, often causes people with anorexia to be underweight or malnourished. Additionally, people who are suffering from anorexia may spend excessive amounts of time working out to burn calories and lose weight.
Anorexia has traditionally been diagnosed most often in adolescent women. However, anyone of any age or gender can develop anorexia. In fact, some studies show that 25% of people that suffer from anorexia are men. This is highly concerning as men are more likely to pass away from health complications related to anorexia due to a systemic lack of early diagnosis and intervention. People that develop anorexia should enter anorexia treatment to overcome their conditions.
How is Anorexia Diagnosed?
When asking yourself, do I have anorexia, there are many ways that medical professionals can determine if you have this condition. An anorexia diagnosis is made when a person exhibits signs of anorexia. This includes extremely low body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, a distorted self-image, and a refusal to maintain a normal body weight.
First, a medical professional will rule out other medical causes of weight loss. This is to determine whether extreme weight loss is self-inflicted or a symptom of a different condition. Next, physical exams are used to measure the health of the heart and lungs. Additionally, it checks if a person’s weight is low for their height. If a person exhibits an anorexia BMI level, an anorexia treatment program will be recommended.
Additional testing in the form of X-rays to check bone density and psychological evaluations are also common to diagnose an individual with anorexia. Additionally, lab tests may be used to check electrolyte or protein levels in the blood that indicate malnutrition.
What Anorexia Treatment Options Lead to Recovery?
Once it has been determined that an individual has anorexia, various treatment options can be explored. While anorexia is a complex condition, there are many paths to anorexia recovery. If you’re asking yourself, do I have anorexia and find yourself experiencing the aforementioned symptoms, help is available. In Los Angeles, California, we offer a residential treatment program with individualized therapy to help you overcome this debilitating and life-threatening condition. Our treatment plans include the following therapeutics to address the root causes of anorexia and help patients develop a healthy relationship with food and their bodies:
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Neurofeedback
- Nutrition therapy
- Holistic treatment
- Body image therapy
- Recreational therapies
The Importance of Anorexia Recovery
Getting treatment for anorexia as soon as possible can reverse many of the effects of the disorder. Gaining back weight and maintaining healthy eating habits can undo much of the damage to the body and brain. However, if anorexia goes untreated for too long, the changes to brain chemistry, digestion, hormonal balance, physical growth, and bone density can be irreversible.
For example, when it comes to the brain, researchers have found evidence of significant brain damage caused by anorexia nervosa’s effects on the brain’s reward system. As brain circuitry is altered, a person’s brain produces dopamine in response to starvation rather than due to eating. This can lead to long-term alteration of food intake-control circuitry in the brain. This allows an anorexic individual to override hunger cues. Subsequently, without treatment, this may become permanent, making the individual in need of anorexia recovery resistant to treatment.
Begin Anorexia Treatment in Los Angeles, California
If you or someone you love is exhibiting signs of anorexia, seeking anorexia treatment can give you your life back. By addressing the causes of anorexia and through treatment, this serious condition can be overcome. Anorexia treatment will vary based on your individual needs. This is why we create personalized treatment plans to guide you to anorexia recovery.
While cases of anorexia may have many common symptoms, each instance of this medical condition is unique. Our team is available to discuss insurance eligibility, treatment options, and your distinctive needs in regards to anorexia. To begin your anorexia recovery journey and find the treatment options that are best suited for you or your loved one, contact us today.
References:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/eating-disorders
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/statistics-research-eating-disorders
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/eating-disorder-behaviors-alter-reward-response-brain
