Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that causes people to obsessively limit their calorie intake. An estimated 90 percent of people who suffer from anorexia are female, according to Mirror Mirror, a website that offers information about eating disorders. The mortality rate for people with anorexia is about 12 times higher than the yearly death rate from all causes of death among 15 to 24 year-old females.
Comprehensive Treatment Plan
Anorexia is not a weight loss disease. Rather, it's a disease that distorts a woman's self-esteem and how she perceives herself aesthetically as well as psychologically. While a nutrition program is an essential part of treatment, it is only one aspect of a comprehensive treatment plan. The Mayo Clinic explains that a dietician and social worker will help a patient develop a healthy eating plan. The goals of nutrition education for an anorexic include understanding how nutrition affects the body, learning how to plan meals, developing regular eating patterns and avoiding dieting. Without other types of interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, a woman's chance of recovery from anorexia can be reduced significantly.
Dieticians
A registered dietician can work with a patient suffering from anorexia to help teach her how to eat normally. Diane Keddy, a nutrition and eating disorder expert, explains that normal eating refers to eating without fear, guilt, anxiety, obsessive thinking and behaviors. Women with anorexia also need guidance in selecting and planning healthy, nutritious meals that meet their nutritional requirements. An expert in anorexia and nutrition may prescribe social eating, acknowledging and eliminating food and dieting rituals, and taking risks with food. This type of nutrition program works like a one-on-one or group therapy session. Women can get nutrition counseling in an in-patient setting, an out-patient program or by working individually with a counselor. The Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center (see Resources) has links to treatment centers, online and telephone counseling resources, workshops, therapy groups and free support groups.
Curriculum
There are a lot of programs for anorexic women, from acute care to residential, in-patient treatment, outpatient programs, and self-help programs like Eating Disorders Anonymous. Because nutrition is such an integral part of recovery, any program you choose to receive treatment from will require nutrition education. The Center is an eating-disorder treatment facility in Washington State. The 30-day intensive treatment program includes weekly nutrition education classes, weekly food shopping classes, assisted grocery shopping, weekly cooking classes, body image education, a supportive eating program and more. You don't have to live in Washington to get this kind of help with your disorder. Most eating disorder programs will have a similar curriculum. Something-Fishy.org is a website with free listings and links to dieticians and nutritionists, recovery retreats, personal coaches, faith-based programs, and other eating disorder experts.
Self-Help
Women suffering from anorexia do not necessarily have to check themselves into a residential treatment program to get help. If you're committed to recovering and getting healthy, you can join a free self-help group like Eating Disorders Anonymous. The goal of joining a self-help group is to surround yourself with other people who have a similar problem. The theory is that offering support to another person will actually help you in your own recovery.
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