FAQ: Does an eating disorder ever go away completely?

If you have an eating disorder, it will be a lifelong struggle. Even if you achieve a weight that’s considered healthy for your age and height, there is still the possibility of relapse. It’s not easy to recover from an eating disorder–there are no quick fixes–but there is help out there. Reaching out for professional treatment can help get you back on the road to recovery, and they can offer support every day along the way.

As you recover, it’s important to understand why you had the eating disorder in the first place. It can be helpful to talk with a therapist or other support person about how your situation was similar to those of others who have struggled with an eating disorder. Learning about common concerns can help you feel less alone, and maybe even set you down a different path once your recovery is complete.

It’s also important to understand that not all eating disorders are the same. Although there are common similarities, the causes of anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder can be very different. Your recovery plan will depend on your particular challenges, so a treatment provider will look at your specific situation to create a customized recovery plan for you.

It’s helpful to remember that it’s not something you do alone – you don’t have to face this challenge alone. Treatment providers have seen many people with eating disorders overcome their challenges and go on to lead healthy, happy lives.

The Effect of Intermittent Fasting on Eating Disorders
BistroMD shares a blog post on the effect of intermittent fasting on eating disorders. BistroMD is a popular meal delivery service focusing on both weight loss and healthy eating.

The article discusses how many people are turning to intermittent fasting (IF) as a way to jumpstart their weight loss. The idea behind IF is that it allows certain restrictions regarding food intake, but then allows for more freedom later in the day. A popular method of IF is the 16/8 method, which pushes dinner time back to 8pm. This set up allows for a fast from breakfast until dinner.

1. “Anorexia Nervosa: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed.” Anorexia Nervosa: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed. WebMD, n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2016
2. “An Overview of Binge Eating Disorder.” About Binge Eating Disorder (BED). NIMH, n.d. Web

3.”Bulimia Nervosa: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed” Bulimia Nervosa: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed..

How to cure eating disorder? Best way to get better?

Thanks for your question. I’m glad that you have decided to get treatment. Eating disorders are treatable and recovery is possible. I’m not sure what type of treatment you will be receiving, but most often it is a combination of things that works best. You can find a list of treatments at the end of this post if you want to read more on each one, or your therapist will likely discuss them with you.

The first step to recovery is deciding that you want to get better and reaching out for help. Once you take that step, treatment can begin.

Eating disorders usually involve various strategies for controlling one’s weight and food intake, ranging from the unhealthy to the unhealthy (and may even include purging or bingeing). The main focus of eating disorder treatment is changing these patterns of behavior and attitudes about food and weight control. I would recommend learning more about the different treatments for eating disorders. You can also read about the specific treatments that are typically recommended for each type of eating disorder.

In addition to these treatments, as you begin recovery it is important to get regular support from your loved ones and maintain a healthy lifestyle focused on self-care activities, such as exercise and relaxation.

Treatment of Eating Disorders by Excercise

Eating disorders are complex conditions that generally require treatment with a team of medical professionals, including a physician or therapist, psychiatrist, nutritionist, and/or a dietitian. The purpose of eating disorder treatment is not to simply “get thin” but rather to work on the underlying psychological factors that cause the behaviors.

The most common treatments for eating disorders include family therapy (which may occur in an outpatient setting), nutritional counseling, psychotherapy and antidepressant medications.

Most hospitals and health care programs will include both individual and group therapy in eating disorder treatment. Family therapy is also commonly part of the recovery process. In individual therapy, a person can work one-on-one with a therapist to work through the issues that may have contributed to the eating disorder or to address any underlying psychological problems an individual may have.

It’s important to remember that treatment for an eating disorder often requires long-term commitment. It may take months or even years to achieve clinical recovery, which is defined by the absence of symptoms, including weight restoration and a return to normal eating.

Evidence-based treatments for eating disorders include Intensive Dietary Management(IDM). IDM has published outcomes showing improved quality of life following treatment. Outcome studies show that Intensive Dietary Management is an effective and sustainable treatment model for anorexia nervosa.

Ways to Prevent Eating Disorders

While eating disorders are a devastating illness that have the potential to ruin everyone involved, there are ways to prevent them. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), teens who regularly use drugs, drink alcohol, and suffer from depression are more likely to develop an eating disorder. The APA also found that teens with family history of eating disorders, suffering from anxiety disorders or depression, and those being described by their friends as overly perfectionistic or too concerned with their appearance had a higher possibility of developing an eating disorder.

Encourage healthy eating habits.

During the Great Depression, families depended on each other for food and meals. The dinner table was where they all sat together and ate. These days, there is more independence in our households, but we are still a family of sorts. Even if you do not live with your parents anymore, it is possible to share a meal with the people close to you at least once or twice a week.

Stop the dieting.

There are people out there who are in relationships, families and having children while being on a diet most of the time. It is important to understand that you do not need to be on a diet in order to have a healthy body, because eating healthy, having fun and other positive things picked up along the way are all great ideas for getting the body you want. If you replace diets with new habits that can help you feel better about yourself and live a happier life, then your life will change for the better.

Set your priorities straight.

Make sure that your actions align with your beliefs and values. If you do not like the way you look, then it is up to you to change the way you feel about yourself. Instead of going on a diet because all of your friends are doing it, start a new hobby or get yourself to start an exercise program. Being an individual is better than being just like everyone else.

Look for family support.

Eating disorders often run in families, so if someone else in your family has one, you can be more at risk for developing one. This does not mean that you will definitely get one; it just means that there is a chance of getting one.

Be careful about who you pick to be your friends.

Some of the most dangerous eating disorders are ones that only come out when the individual spent time with certain people. If you have a friend who seems like he or she would want to hurt themselves or kill themselves, then do not spend too much time with them. Sometimes it is only a matter of time until an eating disorder is exposed, so it is better to be safe than sorry.

Be careful about what kind of media you allow yourself to see and read.

There are so many ways to get information, and most of these are the ones that the media uses. Some of them can be false and trying to get you to spend money so that you can be thin, sickly looking, or in a sexualized manner. Cutting out magazines and TV shows with excessive nudity can be a great way to stop you from getting into a situation where you try to emulate someone else’s appearance.

Be careful about your relations with people.

You should not date anyone who does not accept you. You should not become obsessed with anyone just because they are better looking than you. You should not try to be someone that you are not so that a guy will like you or another girl will want to be your best friend. Your friends and your boyfriend deserve someone who truly is happy with the way she looks and it means a lot when someone has the ability to see past the packaging, so do what you can to create an inner beauty, even if it is only for yourself.