Eating Disorders Treatment Services

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What are eating disorders?
What causes eating disorders?
How do I pay for treatment?
How do I access Pine Rest’s eating disorders treatment services?

Do you think about food constantly? When you eat, do you feel guilty? Do you exercise all the time? Do you think you’re fat—regardless of what others say? Once you start eating, is it hard to stop? Have you ever used a laxative or self-induced vomiting to lose weight?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’re not alone. You may be one of the millions of Americans who suffer from an eating disorder. If you feel alone and out of control of your eating habits, call Pine Rest.

We can help.

Our professional therapists will work with you to determine if you have an eating disorder and—if so—what you can do to control it. Our specialists will develop an individualized plan that addresses your specific needs.

What are eating disorders?
There are three main kinds of eating disorders. Many of their symptoms overlap.

Anorexia Nervosa

• intense fear of becoming fat
• refusal to maintain minimum weight
• distorted body image
• excessive exercise
• rigid eating patterns

Bulimia Nervosa

• secretive binge eating
• purge by self-induced vomiting, abuse of diet pills,
  laxatives, or diuretics
• frequent weight fluctuations

Binge Eating Disorder

• compulsion to binge and overeat
• guilt or remorse about eating
• obsession with food

For more information on binge eating click here.

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What causes eating disorders?
An eating disorder is an unhealthy way of coping with emotional pain. Often people with an eating disorder have poor self-esteem. Many other factors—such as a person’s family, psychological and physical health, culture, and support system-—can play a role, too.

People can recover from an eating disorder by dealing with the underlying issues that cause them to misuse food. It’s important they also work on correcting the way they think about food, weight, and eating. Good treatment addresses both the eating disorder symptoms and the problems with self-esteem, feelings, and family dynamics.

We believe people with eating disorders deserve and need comprehensive treatment. This means we address every aspect: emotions, nutrition, medication, education, and other factors that might contribute to a person’s problem. We believe in developing a relationship with the person so together we work to eliminate the symptoms and improve the person’s self-esteem.

Most people with eating disorders can get the help they need through outpatient services. Pine Rest offers:

• individual and family therapy
• medication—such as antidepressants—to address the
  mental health issues that may accompany the disorder
• individual nutritional counseling consultation,
  community presentations, and education

In addition, people who have a primary psychiatric diagnosis in addition to an eating disorder can receive inpatient and partial hospitalization treatment. Our hospital staff consult with our outpatient therapists to address every facet of the problem. If necessary, we will consult with your physician to make sure you’re getting the help you need.

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How do I pay for treatment?
Pine Rest participates with Medicare, Medicaid, most insurance carriers, and many managed care programs. Some—including Medicaid—require pre-authorization for services. If you have questions, please call your insurance company to find out exactly what benefits you have.

How do I access Pine Rest’s eating disorders treatment services?
If you wonder if you or someone you love has an eating disorder, call Pine Rest at 616.455.5270. You also can ask your physician to call. We will set up an appointment for an evaluation.

We're ready to help.

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