Anorexia Treatment Programs

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder in which a person---male or female---severely restricts food intake. Anorexics often vomit several times a day, take laxatives or drugs to increase their metabolism, exercise excessively and regularly "trick" friends and family members into believing there's nothing wrong with them. Anorexia is a disease that affects the whole person---body, mind and spirit. An individual with anorexia typically weighs at least 15 percent less than her normal healthy weight. While prolonged anorexia can be fatal, as the body's organs fail, the good news is that there are many treatment programs that can help you overcome your eating disorder and lead a normal life.

Treatment Programs

• Anorexia treatment programs have differing approaches and no single approach is necessarily better than another, nor is one approach best for every anorexic. In order to find the right program, the patient needs to consult a doctor, as well as family members, friends and spiritual advisers.

  While the treatment programs described below are representative of the offerings nationwide, the list is in no way meant to be conclusive or to condone or promote a given program or center.

Remuda Ranch

• One treatment program, the Remuda Programs for Eating Disorders, located in Arizona and Virginia, has treated nearly 9,000 people. According to the organization, 95 percent of patients treated at Remuda Ranch remain in recovery after leaving the facility. Because overcoming anorexia takes time, self-reflection and hard work, the program at Remuda Ranch lasts for 45 to 60 days. As at many treatment centers, this facility is based on a holistic approach that treats the entire person: mind, body and spirit.

The Renfrew Center

• The Renfrew Center comprises several women's mental-health centers located in Philadelphia and Radnor, Pa.; Coconut Creek, Fla.; New York City; Wilton, Conn.; Ridgewood, N.J.; Charlotte, N.C.; Nashville, Tenn.; Dallas; and Bethesda, Md. It also offers a national network of specialists. When the initial Renfrew Center opened in Philadelphia in 1985, it was the United States' first residential facility for women with eating disorders.

Walden Behavioral Care

• Walden Behavioral Care treats both eating and psychiatric disorders. Located in Waltham and Northampton, Mass., the Walden Behavioral Centers use a holistic approach to treating anorexics that takes into consideration various aspects of each patient's health-care needs.

Choosing a Treatment Center

• There are many anorexia treatment centers located throughout the United States. Before you choose one over the other, it's important to understand that the treatment should be determined on an individual basis, depending upon the severity of the disorder.

  According to the Women's Center for Healthy Living, residential anorexia treatment centers garner the best results. In addition, a treatment center should provide the following:

  • psychological evaluation and treatment
  • group and individual therapy
  • family therapy
  • nutritional and fitness guidance
  • holistic treatment
  • medical intervention, if needed, and
  • follow-up treatment