Eating disorders—anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating and others—are complex diseases that require a multidisciplinary approach to treatment.
Across the Sutter Health network, we offer specialized services for eating disorder treatment, including the Bay Area’s only full-spectrum psychiatric eating disorder program for both teens and adults, the Center for Anorexia and Bulimia at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center. Our staff has successfully treated thousands of people, including many who were not successful at other programs. We offer a variety of treatment programs, staffed with compassionate and nonjudgmental professionals, who can help you (or your family member) recover from an eating disorder and resume a fulfilling life.
Treatment for an eating disorder begins with a comprehensive assessment, including a diagnostic screening interview, psychiatric evaluation, nutritional assessment, medical evaluation and psychological testing. These assessments help to determine each person’s best treatment plan and the level of care needed.
For some people, generally those who are severely underweight or who have not made progress in other programs, inpatient treatment is the best option. Inpatient treatment can help patients get medically stabilized quickly and get started on medically supervised weight restoration and recovery programs.
Intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs are appropriate for people who do not need to be hospitalized but do need regular care. In these programs, patients spend several hours a day at the hospital, several times a week, but go home to sleep at night. Some patients will do well with a less intensive series of outpatient visits.
In all levels of care, our goal is to stabilize your medical condition, normalize your food intake, create healthier eating behaviors, and explore and move toward resolving any underlying psychological issues.
Treatment typically includes:
- Individual and family therapy.
- Nutritional therapy, which starts with a comprehensive assessment of current eating patterns and food intake, weight history, disordered eating history, exercise habits, body image concerns, and supplement use. The healthcare provider then develops an eating plan that normalizes eating patterns and the patient’s relationship with food.
- Educational programs about eating disorders, food, weight, dieting, relapse prevention and meal planning.
We also offer support groups for family members.
