Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that can affect the way a person views their body, making it difficult for them to maintain a healthy weight.
According to the National Eating Disorders Association, people who have anorexia often do harmful things to control their weight, like restrict how much they eat, exercise compulsively, or purge after eating. When a person who suffers from anorexia doesn’t seek treatment, it can do lasting damage to their physical and emotional health.
Tower Behavioral Health offers personalized, comprehensive inpatient treatment for people age 14 and older who are struggling with anorexia. With the help of our expert team, you can restore your physical health and regain a more balanced relationship with your body.
Signs & Symptoms of Anorexia
The signs and symptoms of anorexia might look different from one person to another depending on different factors in a person’s life. However, there are certain behaviors and warning signs that might indicate that someone is struggling with anorexia. These include:
- Deeply concerned about gaining weight
- Restricts any weight gain by dieting, exercising, or purging
- Intensely focused on body weight, shape, or size
- Keeps losing weight or cannot maintain healthy weight
- Persistently refuses to see seriousness of weight loss
- Preoccupied with food rituals and exercise regimens
- Displays inflexibility and trouble with perfectionism
- Emotions seem overly restrained and withdrawn
- Refuses to eat in public or with loved ones
If someone is exhibiting any of the signs and symptoms of anorexia, it’s crucial to reach out to professionals to get an assessment. This is the best way to determine whether an individual needs professional support for anorexia.
Anorexia Statistics
Based on a 2012-2013 survey of more than 36,000 U.S. adults, the following statistics on anorexia were reported:
- An estimated 0.07% of adults will struggle with anorexia at some point in their lives.
- Around 0.05% of adults suffered from anorexia at some point during the 12-month survey period.
- Women were much more likely than men to develop an eating disorder like anorexia during the survey period or at some point in their lives.
Potential Effects of Anorexia
Anorexia can impact every aspect of a person’s life, keeping them from functioning like they usually would. Potential effects of anorexia include:
- Trouble concentrating at work or school
- Failure to fulfill career or academic potential
- Difficulty maintaining close relationships
- Strained relationships with loved ones
- Frequent doctor visits and ongoing health problems
- Development of a substance use disorder
- Development of another mental health condition
- Thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts
Although the effects of anorexia can be devastating, there is hope. With appropriate treatment for anorexia, it’s possible to live a productive, rewarding life.
Why Get Treatment for Anorexia?
Making the decision to get treatment for anorexia takes courage, but it can also be a powerful first step toward regaining control from a debilitating disease.
By finding a place to get anorexia treatment, you can begin to heal physically and emotionally. The experts at an anorexia treatment center can help you develop a healthier relationship with food and your body. They can also help you develop skills to better manage the thoughts and behaviors that may be contributing to your struggles with anorexia.
You may also find that the time you spend at an anorexia treatment center can allow you to build a crucial support network. By connecting with others who are also in treatment for anorexia, you may develop a recovery community that you carry with you for years to come.
Therapies Used to Treat Anorexia
At Tower, we provide clinically excellent inpatient treatment for people whose lives have been disrupted by anorexia. With a unit designed specifically for eating disorders, our facility in Reading, Pennsylvania, is equipped to help people find their unique path to recovery.
The goal of inpatient treatment is to stabilize any symptoms or medical conditions associated with a person’s struggles with anorexia. Before starting treatment for anorexia, every person completes a detailed assessment of their medical history and presenting symptoms. They also meet with a dietitian to set individualized treatment goals.
While everyone follows a personalized treatment plan during their time at Tower, you can expect to take part in daily group therapy sessions that address the topics that are specific to your therapeutic goals. These sessions, which may also include various experiential therapies, can help you better understand the condition you are suffering from and develop healthier ways to cope with the behaviors that have overtaken your life.
Depending on your specific needs, you may also take part in individual counseling three times a week and family counseling twice a week. If you require medication management services, you can meet with a psychiatrist daily, and our nursing staff will monitor and administer your medications.
Why Choose Our Anorexia Treatment Center?
When you choose Tower Behavioral Health for inpatient treatment for anorexia, you can benefit from clinically excellent care delivered by professionals who are passionate about helping others find lasting recovery. Other benefits of choosing our Reading, Pennsylvania, facility include:
- Evidence-based therapies – Everyone heals from anorexia in their own way. We use a variety of evidence-based therapies and approaches that can address your psychological, medical, and nutritional needs.
- Safe, supportive environment – Our experts understand the shame and isolation anorexia can cause. We do our utmost to create a supportive environment where you feel safe and encouraged while working toward your therapeutic goals.
- Educational support – Seeking treatment for anorexia shouldn’t get in the way of a student’s educational goals. Middle school and high school students receive two hours of instruction each day from a certified teacher.
Living with anorexia can make you feel like there’s no hope for the future. But when you find the right place to get anorexia treatment, you can start on the path to a more hopeful tomorrow.
This content was written on behalf of and reviewed by the clinical staff at Tower Behavioral Health.