Weight/Eating Concerns
What is disordered eating?
Disordered eating may include symptoms and behaviors of eating disorders, but is used to describe a range of irregular eating behaviors that may or may not warrant an actual diagnosis. Disordered eating is a descriptive phrase and not a diagnosis. Types of eating disorders include Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia, and those are identified with criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5).
Disordered eating may include restrictive eating, eating compulsively, emotional eating, or irregular or inflexible eating patterns.
In therapy for weight and eating concerns, what do we work on together?
Concerns around eating, body image, and weight can be deeply personal and emotionally complex. Whether you’re navigating disordered eating patterns, body dissatisfaction, or struggles with self-worth, therapy offers a supportive space to explore and heal. Together, we work on the following areas:
When should I get help for weight or eating concerns?
At CAYA World, we believe that everyone deserves a healthy and peaceful relationship with food and their body. Support can be especially helpful when struggles begin to impact your wellbeing or daily life.
What causes weight/eating concerns and why are disordered eating patterns increasing in prevalence?
There is no single cause of an eating disorder. Biology, genetics, environment and social factors all play a part.
Dissatisfaction with body weight or shape is the primary contributing factor of disordered eating behaviors among adolescents and young adults. As a society, we place a significant emphasis on weight and appearances. Also, research has suggested that the use of social media (e.g., TikTok, Instagram, Facebook) may influence the eating behaviors of children and adolescents, leading to an increased prevalence of eating disorders.
However, we also are an increasingly busy society that depends more on convenient and more readily available foods, like fast food or eating out. Additionally, the emotional stressors placed on individuals may result in using food as a coping mechanism. As a result, we are seeing an increase in binge eating, emotional eating, as well as a rise in obesity rates.
Why doesn't CAYA World provide therapy for anorexia nervosa or more severe eating disorders?
Eating disorders, like Anorexia Nervosa, are serious and often fatal conditions associated with severe disturbances in eating behavior/pattern.
Individuals with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and other eating disorders require significant care, including medical care to monitor nutritional deficiencies and physical functioning.
Similarly, we know that individuals with AN may benefit from more intensive therapy like residential treatment or intensive outpatient programs. Because we cannot provide the close monitoring and medical care to these individuals, we do not want care to be compromised.
We are happy to provide referrals to other eating disorder treatment facilities in the country if interested.
