If you’re worried that you or someone you know might have an eating disorder, it’s important to see a professional who can help assess & diagnose this serious mental health/medical condition. Eating disorders can be nuanced and can go undiagnosed if someone isn’t assessed by someone who is an expert in the field. The best place to start would be a therapist and or MD who has worked extensively in the treatment of those who struggle with these disorders. You would want to find a provider & establish an initial appointment or assessment for yourself of the person who you are worried about.
Initial Consultation: What to Expect
The first step in diagnosing an eating disorder typically involves an initial consultation with a healthcare professional, such as a therapist, doctor, or specialist in eating disorders. During this visit, they will gather comprehensive information about your eating habits, medical history, and psychological health. Here’s what you can expect:
Clinical Interview:
The provider will ask detailed questions about your overall emotional & physical well-being. They will explore eating patterns, exercise habits, thoughts about food and body image, and any behaviors that might indicate an eating disorder (e.g., binge eating, purging, restrictive eating).
Medical History:
A thorough review of your medical history is essential. This includes any previous diagnoses, current medications, and family history of eating disorders or other mental health conditions.
Physical Examination:
If one of your appointments is with a physician, they will conduct a standard medical assessment and should screen for metrics specific to eating disorder behaviors or malnutrition risks. This might include a blind weight, measuring your height, and vital signs, as well as conducting blood tests to check for electrolyte imbalances, malnutrition, or other health issues.
Psychological Assessments or Measures
In addition to the clinical interview and physical examination, some providers may have you complete questionnaires prior to the appointment. They are looking for things specific to an eating disorder or disordered eating as well as common mental health concerns that tend to be connected to an eating disorder. Common assessments include:
Self-Report Questionnaires:
These standardized tools ask about your eating behaviors, attitudes towards food and body image, and related psychological symptoms. Examples include the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT).
Structured Interviews:
In-depth interviews conducted by a trained professional help gather detailed information about your eating habits, body image, and emotional state. The Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) is a commonly used structured interview.
Healthcare professionals are trained to use a manual that overviews diagnostic criteria before rendering a diagnosis and treatment plan. Any therapist utilizes the DSM-5, which outlines specific criteria for various eating disorders, including:
Anorexia Nervosa:
Characterized by restricted food intake leading to malnutrition, intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image. Subtypes include:
Restricting Type: Reduced food intake, with or without excessive exercise.
Binge-Eating/Purging Type: Involves recurrent episodes of binge eating or purging behaviors (e.g., vomiting, laxative misuse, and over-exercising).
Bulimia Nervosa: Involves recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain (e.g., vomiting, excessive exercise, misuse of laxatives).
Binge Eating Disorder: Characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating without the regular use of compensatory behaviors. Episodes are associated with feelings of distress, guilt, or shame and occur at least once a week for three months.
Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED): This applies to individuals who exhibit significant eating disorder symptoms but do not meet the full criteria for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder.
Determining the Type of Eating Disorder
To determine the specific type of eating disorder, the healthcare professional will use information from meeting with you & reviewing the assessments. They may consult with any other providers you have already seen such as a medical provider, a registered dietitian who is an eating disorder specialist, and possibly whomever referred you to be assessed. These consultations will only happen with your written permission and are not necessary to move forward with rendering their professional opinion/diagnosis.
Once a diagnosis is made, the healthcare professional will work with you to develop a treatment plan per the standard of care in the field. This treatment approach should include a medical provider, a specialized registered dietician, and an eating disorder therapist. Regardless of what type of eating disorder they think you have, all three types of providers are the standard of care.
Many providers who will do an assessment for you will likely be an option to be a part of your treatment team. However, they may also provide recommendations for team members or even refer you to someone who they feel is the best fit for your symptoms, personality, location, and financial circumstances.
Begin Eating Disorder Treatment in Salt Lake City, UT
If you have questions about what to do next, reach out to us. We will be happy to answer your questions about the process & next steps. We know this can feel overwhelming & scary. We are here to help 801-699-6161
Stay tuned for our upcoming blog series that walks you through how to know what type of eating disorder you have, as they are often not as straightforward as they may seem. And to answer the common question about if you can have more than one eating disorder at a time. Start your therapy journey with Inside Wellness by following these simple steps:
Contact us or give us a call at 801-699-6161
Meet with a caring therapist
Start overcoming your eating disorder!
Other Services Offered with Inside Wellness
We know that you may experience other concerns in addition to eating disorders. This is why Inside Wellness offers support with a variety of mental health services. Other mental health services include body image counseling, anxiety treatment, and online Therapy in Utah. You can also visit our blog for more helpful information today!