Eating Disorders
Help for every age and every stage of recovery.
Eating Disorders
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is characterized by restrictive eating, significant weight loss, and an intense fear of weight gain.
Common signs include:
- Limiting calories, food groups, or portions
- Skipping meals
- Frequent thoughts about food, weight, or body shape
- Anxiety around eating and weight gain
- Avoiding eating around others
Anorexia is influenced by biological vulnerability, temperament, stress, and environmental factors — not choice or willpower.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa involves recurrent binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain.
Binge eating includes:
- Eating a large amount of food in a short time
- Feeling a loss of control while eating
Compensatory behaviors may include:
- Self-induced vomiting
- Misuse of laxatives or diuretics
- Driven or excessive exercise
- Fasting or severe restriction
People with bulimia often place high importance on body weight or shape and experience significant shame about their eating.
Binge Eating Disorder
Binge eating disorder involves recurrent binge eating without purging behaviors.
During a binge, individuals may:
- Eat rapidly
- Eat when not physically hungry
- Eat in secret
- Feel guilt, shame, or distress afterward
Binge eating is often a response to emotional distress or chronic restriction — not a lack of control or motivation.
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is marked by difficulty eating enough or a wide enough range of foods, leading to nutritional, medical, or social impairment.
ARFID is not driven by body image concerns.
Eating difficulties may involve:
- Strong sensitivity to textures, tastes, or smells
- Fear of choking, vomiting, or getting sick
- Low appetite or limited interest in food
ARFID can result in:
- Poor growth or weight loss
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Reliance on supplements
- Avoidance of social situations involving food
ARFID affects children, adolescents, and adults. It is often mistaken for picky eating, but symptoms are more severe and persistent.
Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED)
- Significant restriction of food intake resulting in weight loss without low body weight
- Binge–purge behaviors that occur less frequently
- Purging behaviors not accompanied by binge eating
- Clinically significant eating disorder symptoms that do not fit another category
Treatments We Provide at the Eating Disorders Center
Multidiagnostic Eating Disorders – Dialectical Behavior Therapy (MED-DBT)
Family-Based Treatment (FBT)
Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT-E)
Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for ARFID (CBT-AR)
Therapy
Our team of doctoral-level clinicians provides specialized treatment for eating disorders across the lifespan. We use evidence-based treatment approaches to provide care grounded in research and tailored to your needs.
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Address
1200 5th Avenue, Suite 800 Seattle, WA 98101