Eating Disorder Treatment in San Francisco

Given the scale of the eating disorder epidemic in the United States, it’s no surprise that San Francisco is home to many public and private, inpatient and outpatient, eating disorder treatment programs. Many of these programs, like Alta Mira’s, are linked to addiction treatment plans.

The connection to addiction
A large body of medical research has shown a significant lifetime comorbidity between eating disorders and drug and alcohol addiction. What’s more, as our understanding evolves, researchers are seeing striking clinical and biological similarities between common eating disorders and substance (e.g. alcohol, cocaine, and heroin addiction) disorders. Some have gone as far as to describe eating disorders as a form of drug addiction.* [Source]

Eating disorder treatment at Alta Mira

Alta Mira treats residents with eating disorders with a combination of medical care, cognitive-behavioral therapy, nutrition counseling and, when necessary, medication. Most important, we treat our residents with compassion and respect, empowering them to take an active role in their recovery.

Medical care – Eating disorders can cause severe heart and kidney problems, and lead to premature death. Depending on the severity of the disorder, we provide medical care and closely monitor at-risk admitants.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) – This therapeutic technique has proven effective in treating addiction and eating disorders. CBT is a highly structured, goal-oriented approach that seeks to help patients identify maladaptive thought patterns that lead to destructive behaviors. With a greater awareness of these negative thoughts and beliefs, patients are able to avoid the actions that follow.

Nutrition education – Our experience tells us that education is an essential part of the recovery process. Alta Mira has a full-time nutritionist on staff to help residents develop a better understanding of nutrition and the nature of their disorder. We also host regular seminars with noted health and nutrition experts.

Medications – There are no medications that treat eating disorders. However, medication can be a useful tool in helping residents complete their treatment and relapse. Antidepressants, for example, have proven helpful in many instances, as depression is a common co-occurring condition. In certain cases where patients are unable to eat and are dangerously underweight, anti-psychotics are prescribed.

Contact Alta Mira today

To learn more about Alta Mira’s addiction and eating disorder treatment programs, please call us at 866-922-1350. Please call our admissions department at 866-922-1350 to set up a free consultation. And if you live in the San Francisco area, we encourage you to schedule a site visit.

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Eating disorders are very complex and continue to defy scientific understanding. Despite years of study, there is no consensus on the social, biological and behavioral roots of anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder, the three most commonly diagnosed eating disorders.