Category: Treatment
Free & Low-Cost Resources for Eating Disorder Help
Eating disorder treatment is often covered by health insurance, but for some, the cost of treatment for an eating disorder is just too high. Some patients may still get copayments or deductible bills and must pay monthly premiums to keep their plans intact. Others don’t have health insurance at all.
The Most Effective Treatments for Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious mental health condition that can have dangerous and long-lasting impacts on physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It often manifests as cycles of binge eating and purging, which can lead to or support a number of other harmful symptoms.
Treating eating disorders like bulimia nervosa is possible through the right kind of support and care, along with patience and time. Many methods can help you or a loved one find recovery from bulimia nervosa.
Different Treatments for Bulimia
Like nearly all eating disorders, BN is a complex condition with a number of biological, psychological, and environmental factors working to develop and drive the eating disorder. A multi-faceted approach to treatment is often the best way to address these various issues.
Psychological Bulimia Treatments
Eating disorders like BN, anorexia nervosa (AN), and binge eating disorder (BED) manifest in very physical ways, but at their core, they’re mental health conditions. As such, psychological care is usually the primary method of bulimia treatment.
Some of the most common types of psychotherapy to help treat bulimia include:
Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT): Often considered the most effective treatment for bulimia nervosa, CBT helps people change unhelpful behavioral patterns by recognizing and changing the unhelpful thought patterns that drive them. Essentially, this structured course of treatment helps people “unlearn” harmful thoughts and learn new, healthier coping mechanisms.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): Dialectical behavior therapy focuses on helping patients improve their emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal relationships and cultivate a greater sense of mindfulness. It teaches that patients can simultaneously love and accept themselves while working to make helpful changes.
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT): Rather than focusing on thoughts that may be harmful, ACT teaches patients to let those thoughts go. The method uses mindfulness and other techniques that help encourage acceptance and encourages patients to direct their energy instead toward activities that align with their morals and make them feel good.
Physical Treatment for Bulimia
Since eating disorders like BN impact physical and mental health, treatment methods addressing physical ailments are also sometimes necessary.
This can be particularly true for people who utilize self-induced vomiting as a purging method, as this can have a major impact on oral health, causing tooth decay, dental erosion, and other issues that require medical attention.1
In severe cases, medical attention may also be necessary to help a patient in crisis reach medical stability. Most long-term treatments, including psychological care, are not administered until a patient is considered medically stable.
Nutritional Bulimia Treatments
Nutritional care is another keystone of bulimia nervosa treatment. Generally administered by a nutritional counselor, this type of treatment is largely educational, helping people learn more about nutrition and maintaining a healthy diet and eating habits.
Nutritional counseling aims to help patients learn how to maintain a healthy weight, get more in touch with their physical needs, and build a better overall relationship with their body. In some cases, counselors or other treatment team members may also provide meal support, eating with patients to help them feel more comfortable and safe during mealtimes, especially in early recovery.
Treating Bulimia Nervosa with Medication
Medications are generally not considered a first-line treatment for eating disorders, but some patients use them in tandem with psychotherapy. Medications can also be used as a way to help maintain recovery after treatment or help alleviate issues related to eating disorder behavior, such as anxiety or depression.
When treating bulimia nervosa in particular, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can be helpful for some patients. This group of drugs generally helps with emotion regulation and has been found to help reduce binge eating behavior in some patients.2
What is the Most Effective Treatment for Bulimia Nervosa?
Every patient is different, with their own unique personal and medical history, psychological profile, and biological makeup, among other factors. That means that the most effective treatment for bulimia nervosa will look different for everyone.
Some patients may flourish with therapy, while others may do better with therapy and medication, and still others will rely more heavily on nutritional counseling and require other medical attention.
In general, however, cognitive behavioral therapy is considered the treatment of choice for BN. The method is also one of the most widely-researched treatment methods for bulimia nervosa, with a number of studies exploring its impact on healthy weight gain (when considered necessary), the reduction of binge eating behavior, and the improvement in important facets of mental health.3
Recently, an “enhanced” cognitive behavioral therapy method (CBT-E) has been developed, which incorporates the same techniques as CBT but addresses additional issues, such as low self-esteem, mood regulation, and perfectionism. Early studies show CBT-E may be an even more effective treatment for bulimia nervosa than cognitive behavioral therapy.4
Virtual Treatment for Bulimia
In an increasingly digital world, many of these treatments can now be administered online. Virtual eating disorder treatment is still relatively new, but studies have already shown it to be just as effective as in-person care, even in cases where patients require higher levels of care.5
Virtual treatment offers a number of benefits over in-person care, including the convenience of receiving care from home, greater flexibility when scheduling appointments, and the ability for patients who live in more remote or underserved areas to easily receive care. Remote programs are also generally less expensive than in-person programs, though this can vary from program to program.
Online care may not be the best choice for everyone, including patients with unstable home environments or little-to-no control over their disordered behaviors. But virtual eating disorder treatment can be helpful for most people who are struggling with eating disorders. Ask your healthcare provider if they think virtual treatment is a good choice for you.
Choosing the Best Treatment for You
When it comes to treating eating disorders, there is no “best” form of treatment, just the best treatment for you. The most effective bulimia nervosa treatment will depend on a number of very personal factors.
Speaking with a mental health professional is the best way to choose the best kind of care for you. These experts will be able to help issue an official diagnosis and determine a treatment plan that’s tailored to your personal history and needs.
Just remember to have patience. There are many ways to help someone recover from bulimia nervosa, and recovery is always possible.
Resources
Rosten A, Newton T. (2017). The Impact of Bulimia Nervosa on Oral Health: A Review of the Literature. British Dental Journal; 223:533–539.
Sysko R, Sha N, Wang Y, Duan N, Walsh BT. (2010). Early Response to Antidepressant Treatment in Bulimia Nervosa. Psychological Medicine; 40(6):999–1005.
Murphy R, Straebler S, Cooper Z, Fairburn CG. (2010). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders. The Psychiatric Clinics of North America; 33(3):611–627.
Cooper Z, Fairburn CG. (2011). The Evolution of “Enhanced” Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Eating Disorders: Learning From Treatment Nonresponse. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice; 18(3):394–402.
Van Huysse JL, Prohaska N, Miller C, Jary J, Sturza J, Etsell K, Bravender T. (2023). Adolescent Eating Disorder Treatment Outcomes of an In-Person Partial Hospital Program Versus a Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program. The International Journal of Eating Disorders; 56(1):192–202.
How to Choose a Bulimia Treatment Program/Center
Choosing a bulimia nervosa treatment program, or a program to help with other eating disorders like anorexia nervosa (AN) or binge eating disorder (BED), can feel like an overwhelming process.
Alternative and Holistic Care for Bulimia
While many evidence-based treatments are often used to help people struggling with bulimia nervosa (BN), some types of alternative and holistic therapy may also be able to help.
Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Bulimia Nervosa
Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a form of talk therapy that has been shown to be potentially beneficial in helping people with eating disorders, including bulimia nervosa (BN).
How to Help Someone Who Has an Eating Disorder
Watching a friend, family member, or loved one struggle with an eating disorder can be incredibly difficult. Though you want to help, you may be unsure how to help someone with an eating disorder.
Bulimia Nervosa Treatment
Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a dangerous mental health disorder that requires appropriate care. And luckily, there are a number of therapies and treatments that can help.
Evidence-Based Eating Disorder Treatment
Thanks to several interlocking social, emotional, and biological factors that maintain and sustain them, eating disorders are often one of the most complex types of mental health conditions to diagnose and properly treat.
UnitedHealthcare Coverage for Bulimia Treatment
UnitedHealthcare plans typically cover eating disorder treatment, including treatment for bulimia nervosa (BN). The company acknowledges the importance of eating disorder treatment on its site, highlighting the importance of getting care for these conditions.
Choosing an Eating Disorder Therapist, Program, or Rehab
Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED) are complex mental health conditions that often require comprehensive care that takes someone’s emotional, physical, and mental health into account.
COBRA Coverage for Bulimia Treatment
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, most commonly known as COBRA, is a law that allows you to extend insurance coverage after leaving your job. Whether you left your job because of voluntary or involuntary job loss, under COBRA, you can continue your insurance benefits through your former employer’s group plan for a specific time period.
How to Best Treat Co-Occurring Eating Disorders and Mental Illness or Substance Abuse
Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED) are serious mental health conditions, but they rarely occur alone.
APS Healthcare Coverage for Bulimia Treatment
Eating disorders like bulimia nervosa (BN) are devastating and often debilitating mental health conditions, which often require extensive treatment to overcome. Unfortunately, the kind of treatment services generally needed for these issues are lengthy and expensive.
AmeriHealth Coverage for Bulimia Treatment
Eating disorders can be dangerous or debilitating mental health conditions, which frequently require extensive treatment to overcome.
What is Bulimia Nutrition Therapy?
Eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa (BN), anorexia nervosa (AN), and binge eating disorder (BED) are complex conditions with physical, emotional, and mental origins and consequences.
As such, eating disorder treatment is often multi-faceted in order to address these varying causes and contributions.
Bulimia Family Therapy | Support Through Recovery
Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious mental health condition with potentially dangerous consequences, but thankfully, it’s also one of the most treatable eating disorders.
Several types of therapy have been found to help people with BN reduce their eating disorder behaviors, so specialists may choose from several techniques when treating these patients.
Exposure & Response Prevention Therapy for Bulimia
Exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP) can be a challenging but effective way to confront situations that may trigger eating disorder symptoms.
Bulimia Online Support and Virtual Treatment
The COVID-19 crisis spurred a dramatic rise in online therapy, but even before the pandemic took hold, virtual mental health treatment was becoming increasingly popular.
Bulimia Recovery Stages
If you or a loved one are struggling with bulimia nervosa (BN), it may seem like recovery is out of reach. But it is entirely possible to overcome the unhelpful thoughts and behaviors that drive this condition.
Aetna Eating Disorder Treatment Coverage
If you specifically have a health insurance policy through Aetna health insurance, you may be curious about what the company can offer you or have additional questions about Aetna eating disorder coverage.
Insurance Coverage for Bulimia Nervosa
Eating disorders like bulimia nervosa (BN), anorexia nervosa (AN), and binge eating disorder (BED), among others, are complex mental health conditions that can have serious consequences if left untreated.
How to Stop Binge Eating
Everyone overindulges every once in a while, but binge eating is different. These episodes are an extreme form of overeating, involving large amounts of food consumed in relatively short periods of time.
A binge eating episode can leave you feeling uncomfortable, but if this behavior starts recurring, it can lead to more concerning issues.
Trauma-Informed Care for Bulimia Nervosa
It’s an unfortunate reality that bulimia nervosa (BN), anorexia nervosa (AN), and many other eating disorders are often connected to a history of trauma, with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) being a common co-occurring condition with these illnesses.
Eating Disorder Therapist Near Me & Remote Options
Psychotherapy is a cornerstone of nearly all treatment plans for eating disorders. Through a series of sessions, trained mental health professionals can help you shed light on some of the factors behind your behaviors and teach you new, healthy coping strategies for moving forward.
Utilizing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Eating Disorders
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a type of psychotherapy commonly used to help people struggling with eating disorders of all types, including bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED), and more.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Bulimia
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common type of therapy used for treating mental disorders of all types, including bulimia nervosa (BN). It has a heavy focus on restructuring how a person thinks, teaching them to redirect, and, eventually, eliminate negative thought patterns in order to engage in healthier behavior.
Online vs. In-Person Treatment for Bulimia
Virtual treatment for bulimia nervosa (BN), or virtual treatment for any mental health disorder, can offer high-quality care. For many people, there isn’t a tangible difference in virtual therapy sessions versus traditional in-person treatment.
Food Addiction Treatment Hotline
Food addiction is an issue we’re only beginning to understand and thoroughly research, but there are a number of resources that can help with this condition and other associated disorders.
Anorexia and Bulimia Support Groups
If you’re struggling with an eating disorder or in recovery, you may benefit from an eating disorder support group. There’s a variety of this type of help available, including online support groups and many free options.
Dangers of Medications When Treating Bulimia
Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious mental health condition, marked by periods of binge eating and compensatory purging behaviors, such as self-induced vomiting or excessive exercise.