Testimonials

"The fact that the program is very empowering made me feel like I had the biggest decisions in my own recovery."

- Kim, Former Patient

 

What are eating disorders and how are they treated?

Do I or does someone I know have an eating disorder? Take our interactive questionnaire.

There are a variety of eating disorders, each with unique symptoms. Eating Disorder Center of Denver treats adult women and men with the following eating disorders:

Anorexia Nervosa.

click to download a printable PDF with more details about anorexia nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa (87 KB)

Anorexia nervosa is a condition in which a person has an extreme body image distortion that leads to an excessive fear of gaining weight. Even when underweight, individuals suffering from anorexia continue to fear weight gain and severely limit the amount and types of food they eat. Individuals with anorexia often have a strong need for control and function well in society and social situations.

Bulimia Nervosa

click to download a printable PDF with more details about bulimia nervosa

Bulimia Nervosa (87 KB)

Bulimia nervosa (commonly referred to as "bulimia") is an illness that manifests itself in the form of binge eating followed by behaviors to avoid weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, fasting, or excessive exercise.  Individuals with bulimia may be within a wide variety of weight ranges.

Binge Eating Disorder

click to download a printable PDF with more details about binge eating disorder

Binge Eating Disorder (77 KB)

People with binge eating disorder (BED) frequently eat larger than normal amounts of food while feeling a loss of control over their eating habits. They often eat to the point of extreme discomfort. They feel as if they have no control and are depressed, disgusted or upset about the food eaten. Unlike bulimia, people with BED do not induce vomiting or use other methods after binging to avoid weight gain.

Diabulimia

click to download a printable PDF with more details about diabulimia

Diabulimia (93 KB)

Diabulimia refers to people with diabetes who intentionally omit or manipulate their insulin intake in order to manage their weight.

A common symptom of diabetes, especially Type 1 diabetes, is significant unexplained weight loss. Once Type 1 diabetes is diagnosed, insulin is prescribed to control the disease. The weight lost due to the diabetes quickly returns once the disease is being managed. Some people choose to reduce or manipulate insulin dosages in order to keep the weight off. This often leads to severe health consequences.

Diabetic patients with an eating disorder are often misdiagnosed. The eating disorder is often confused with the complications of diabetes. 

Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS)

click to download a printable PDF with more details about EDNOS

Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS) (71 KB)

This is a category for eating disorders that do not meet the specific criteria to be labeled anorexia nervosa, bulimia, or binge eating. Symptoms may include but are not limited to, chewing but not swallowing food, purging after eating small amounts of food, and having symptoms of anorexia even while maintaining an appropriate weight.

Eating Disorder Center of Denver also offers gastric bypass surgery evaluations
Often gastric bypass surgery can lead to thoughts, feelings or behaviors of eating disorders. Gastric bypass surgery is a surgical approach to address obesity, but may be accompanied by psychological issues.