Eating Disorders

EATING DISORDER services offered in Fairfax, Vienna, and Sterling, VA

Eating disorders are serious but treatable. Inspire Behavioral Health offers qualified therapists using proven methods to help you develop healthy relationships with food and your body with services in Fairfax, Vienna and Sterling, Virginia. We also offer licensed virtual telehealth visits to patients in Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC. For help addressing eating disorders, call Inspire Behavioral Health today or book an in-person or telemedicine appointment online.

What are eating disorders?

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that go beyond just food. They involve unhealthy obsessions with weight, body image, and eating habits. Patients struggling with eating disorders often develop rigid routines and rules around food, which can be dangerous and deprive their bodies of essential nutrients.  Eating disorders aren’t about vanity; they are complex conditions with emotional roots. Fortunately, with treatment at Inspire Behavioral Health, recovery is possible.

There are actually several different categories of eating disorders. Each one has its own characteristic set of behaviors and symptoms. Here are some of the most common ones:

Anorexia Nervosa

Patients with anorexia nervosa have an intense fear of gaining weight, even when they are underweight. Anorexia is an eating disorder that causes people to severely restrict their calorie intake and may engage in purging behaviors like excessive exercise or laxative use.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa symptoms are also related to preoccupation with weight and body shape. Patients with bulimia binge eat large amounts of food in a short period of time, followed by purging behaviors to get rid of the calories.

Binge-Eating Disorder

Binge-eating disorder is an eating disorder associated with episodes of uncontrollable eating, that does not include purging afterwards. This type of eating disorder can lead to weight gain and associated health problems.

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID):

People with ARFID avoid certain foods or restrict their intake due to sensory sensitivities, fear of choking, or lack of interest in eating. This can lead to nutritional deficiencies.

How are eating disorders treated?

Behavioral therapy plays a crucial role in treating eating disorders by addressing the unhealthy behaviors and thought patterns that fuel them. The therapist works with the individual to identify situations, emotions, or thoughts that trigger unhealthy eating behaviors like restriction, purging, or bingeing. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common approach used to identify and challenge negative thoughts and beliefs about food, weight, and body image. The process includes building healthy eating habits and coping skills to work through food challenges in the future.

It’s important to note that eating disorders are complex mental health conditions and can have serious consequences for physical and mental health. If you are concerned that you or someone you know may have an eating disorder, it is important to seek professional help. Behavioral therapy is often used in conjunction with other treatment modalities like nutritional counseling or medication management for a well-rounded approach to eating disorder recovery.

At Inspire Behavorial Health we offer MEDICATION MANAGEMENT, PRIMARY CARE, PSYCHOTHERAPY, ADHD TESTING, TMS plus treatments for ADHD, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, PTSD, BIPOLAR and PANIC DISORDER.

To achieve freedom from eating disorders, call Inspire Behavioral Health today or book an in-person appointment at our Fairfax, Vienna, or Sterling VA Offices or schedule a convenient telehealth appointment online.