A Lasting Cure For Eating Disorders
Once a person is diagnosed with an eating disorder, the initial priority is to cure the physical symptoms. After the physiologic imbalance has been treated, the doctor must ensure that any relapses to the previous state are avoided.
That is why the main treatment for eating disorders (and other psychological illnesses for that matter) is therapy. The most common therapy undergone by patients with eating disorders is the cognitive behavioral therapy, which is getting better as the method improves. This therapy helps the patient in two ways–one, it helps the patient develop healthier eating habits; and two, it increases the self-esteem of the patient.
Recent studies show that cognitive behavioral therapy has promising results on patients suffering from anorexia and bulimia. This treatment can be done on an outpatient basis, thereby reducing the need for the patients to be admitted inside an institution. Moreover, this provides a long term solution to the problem of eating disorders, since it seeks to cure the root of the problem (that is, low self-esteem), and not just the surface.
Eating Disorder Self Test. Take the EAT-26 self test to see if you might have eating disorder symptoms that might require professional evaluation. All answers are confidential.