Finding Time to Recover
Why summer is a great time to take care of you

Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating are some of  the most serious and difficult conditions to overcome. Eating disorders, characterized by severe disturbances in eating behavior, can effect any gender, race and age. People with an eating disorder may severely reduce the amount of food they eat, eat an unusually large amount of food, or be extremely concerned about their weight or shape.

People with anorexia nervosa see themselves as overweight even though they are dangerously thin from starving themselves. People with bulimia nervosa eat unusually large amounts of food and then compensate by purging (vomiting, taking laxatives or diuretics), fasting or excessive exercise. People with binge eating disorder binge but do not purge, and they often become overweight or obese.

According to a National Association of Anorexia and Associated Disorders (ANAD) survey, 24 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder in the U.S., coupled with the fact taht eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.

This serverity of the diesase is magnified by the fact that less that 10 percent of those with an eating disorder ever seek treatment. Despite a low percentage of patients seeking treatment, there are many new and advanceing treatment programs around the country that continue to evolve how to help those with an eating disorder recover.

Take college students for instance. Acording to a  research, 91 percent of women surveyed on a college campus had attempted to control their weight through dieting, 22 percent dieted “often” or “always.” The surveys indicates that 95 percent of those who have eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25.

The need for this population to seek treatment is clear, and summer is the perfect time. With course load drastiacally decreased or non-existant – summer is the perfect time to work on recovery.

Getting professional help is strongly recommended and early detection can be managed to prevent serious medical complications requiring hospitalization. One of  the nation’s prominent eating disorder clinics, the Eating Disorder Center of Denver (EDCD) offers variety of therapy and treatments depending on patient’s eating disorder level.

For more information about treatment options, and how to fit recovery into your life, please contact the Eating Disorder Center of Denver at www.edcdenver.com

About Eating Disorder Center of Denver

Established in 2001, Eating Disorder Center of Denver (EDCD) is one of the nation's foremost centers for the diagnosis and treatment of the full range of eating disorders. EDCD is committed to empowering individuals 18 years of age and older suffering with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and related disorders to help them achieve and sustain recovery. A multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, physicians, clinicians, family therapists and registered dietitians work together to create a specialized, evidence-based treatment plan for each patient. For additional information about EDCD, visit www.edcdenver.com or call 303-771-0861.

# # #