Warner Park Recovery Center – Woodland Hills Mental Health

Treating Eating Disorders in the Addiction Treatment Space

At Warner Park Recovery, we provide extensive and individualized care in an outpatient setting in Woodland Hills, CA. We treat individuals struggling with both primary mental health and substance abuse disorders. Treating eating disorders in the addiction treatment space can be a complex issue. However, psychotherapy and dual-diagnosis treatment can be incredibly helpful in these areas.

With most individuals that we treat struggling with one or more co-occurring diagnoses, we often see many clients in need of treatment and recovery for eating disorders. At Warner Park Recovery, we do not provide a specialized track for primary eating diagnoses but are able to provide treatment and support to those already working on active recovery from an eating disorder and have been stabilized in their symptomatology. When it comes to treating eating disorders, our main concern is safety. We want all individuals to get the adequate help and care they need for them to have the best chance at long-term sobriety.

General Eating Disorder Statistics

  • 9% of the U.S. population, or 28.8 million Americans, will have an eating disorder in their lifetime.
  • Less than 6% of people with eating disorders are medically diagnosed as “underweight.”
  • 28-74% of the risk for eating disorders is through genetic heritability.
  • Eating disorders are among the deadliest mental illnesses, second only to opioid overdose.1
  • Ten thousand two hundred deaths each year are the direct result of an eating disorder—that is, one death every 52 minutes.
  • About 26% of people with eating disorders attempt suicide.
  • The economic cost of eating disorders is $64.7 billion every year.

Eating Disorder Statistics—LGBTQ+

  • Gay men are seven times more likely to report binge-eating and twelve times more likely to report purging than heterosexual men.
  • Gay and bisexual boys are significantly more likely to fast, vomit, or take laxatives or diet pills to control their weight.
  • Transgender college students report experiencing disordered eating at approximately four times the rate of their cisgender classmates.
  • 32% of transgender people report using their eating disorder to modify their body without hormones.
  • 56% of transgender people with eating disorders believe their disorder is not related to their physical body.
  • Gender dysphoria and body dissatisfaction in transgender people are often cited as a key link to eating disorders.
  • Non-binary people may restrict their eating to appear thin, consistent with the common stereotype of androgynous people in popular culture.

As defined by the American Psychological Association, eating disorders are illnesses in which people experience severe disturbances in their eating behaviors, related thoughts, and emotions. People with eating disorders are typically preoccupied and hyper-focused on their weight. There are three main types of eating disorders.

Anorexia Nervosa

  • Diagnosed when patients weigh 15% less than the normal healthy weight corresponding to their height.
  • Limited Food Intake
  • Issues with body image
  • Denial of low body weight

Anorexia Nervosa is a serious condition that, after a long period of time, may cause extreme physical symptoms such as

  • No menstrual periods
  • Thinning of bones (osteoporosis)
  • Brittle hair and nails
  • Anemia
  • Low Blood Pressure
  • Depression

If not treated in serious cases if left untreated, Anorexia Nervosa can lead to death

Bulimia Nervosa

  • Characterized by eating large amounts of food, often to the point of sickness, and then purging by making themselves throw up or using a laxative.
  • Chronically inflamed and sore throat
  • Swollen neck and jaw glands
  • Severe dehydration from purging of fluids.
  • Decay of tooth enamel
  • Bulimia can lead to fatal complications, including esophageal tears, cancer, cardiac arrhythmias.

Binge Eating Disorder

  • Characterized by frequent overeating during a discrete period.
  • Eating more rapidly than normal
  • Eating large amounts of food when not physically hungry
  • Feeling extreme guilt and depression after eating

What are Eating Disorders?

How Are Eating Disorder Symptoms Treated?

Eating Disorders are treated by both addressing physical and mental health. The first step is often to address physical health symptoms and risks, making sure the patient is safe and stabilized and treating any physical maladies, and helping them to safely regain weight to a healthy level. E.D. treatment also involves psychotherapy to help individuals understand the emotions and thoughts that trigger these behaviors. After treating physical symptoms, the goal is to target the underlying conflicts and help patients learn new tools and skills to manage their mental health, diet, and nutrition effectively.

When treating eating disorders in an intensive residential setting, 24-hour care is provided to the patient to help maintain their safety. Meals are portioned and prepared both for and by the clients while providing education and intervention around sustainable health and intuitive eating.

There are also a variety of support groups and 12 step programs that meet and work through issues regarding various eating disorders. These include.

O.A.- Overeaters Anonymous– 12 step program founded in 1960 for people with problems related to foo. Anyone with a problematic relationship with food is welcome.

FAA- Food Addicts Anonymous– Founded in 1998, a 12-step program based on the 12 steps of A.A.- open to people who struggle with the obsession with food.

At Warner Park Recovery, we strive to provide excellent care to men and women from all backgrounds and communities in need of recovery. We understand the severity of an eating disorder diagnosis and want all clients and families that we meet to receive correct placement at the level of care and treatment center that is the best fit for them, even when that may not be us.

We work with clients on a case-by-case basis, performing complete assessments of the client’s history and current needs before making decisions about care. We do offer treatment modalities and support around nutrition and health that can be beneficial in aiding clients in their continued recovery. If you or a loved one is struggling or seems like they might be struggling, call us today to speak with one of our licensed admissions clinicians to gain more insight and resources available to you.

Treatment in Woodland Hills, CA

We Care

Based on your test results we are sending you this notification in order to better assist you. Please feel free to reach out with no strings attached and speak with one of our live representatives today. 

Call Now

No Thanks!

Skip to content