Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW) focuses on the serious crisis across the United States, with special focus on women, girls, and people of diverse genders and/or sex characteristics. At Columbus Park Eating Disorder Experts, we recognize during this week and year-round the health issue affecting more than 28 million people across the nation. Our clinicians at Columbus Park Eating Disorder Experts are here for you and remain committed to providing expert evidence-based eating disorder treatment via telehealth, guiding recovery for people of all ages, genders, races, sexual orientations, s ..read more

The efficacy of telehealth, also known as telemedicine, tele-healthcare or virtual treatment, has been a subject of significant interest and research, especially in recent years.  Several studies have explored the impact of telehealth on individuals with eating disorders, and while the field is still evolving, the research shows promising results. Benefits of Telemental Health Services for Eating Disorders Increased Access to Care: Telehealth can overcome geographical barriers, making specialized eating disorder treatment more accessible to those in remote or underserved areas. This expan ..read more

FBT, otherwise known as Family-Based Treatment, is a leading approach in the management of eating disorders, particularly among adolescents. This approach is founded on the premise that family involvement is not merely supportive, but integral to the process of recovery. In FBT, parents are empowered to take a frontline role in their child’s treatment. They are tasked with helping their child regain lost weight and reestablish healthy eating habits. This active role is not just about nourishing the child physically, but also about rebuilding a healthy relationship with food within a safe and s ..read more

Trauma is a deeply distressing experience that can have long-lasting effects on an individual’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Whether it stems from a single traumatic event or repeated exposure to distressing situations, trauma presents unique challenges that require understanding, support, and specialized interventions. In this blog post, we will explore the various challenges faced by individuals who have experienced trauma and shed light on the path towards healing. The Complexity of Traumatic Memories: One of the significant challenges of trauma is the way it imprints itsel ..read more

Family-Based Treatment (FBT) is a therapeutic approach that has shown promising results in treating ARFID in children and adolescents.  In some cases, FBT-ARFID is an appropriate intervention for young adults who are living at home with parental support.   FBT-ARFID is considered “a parental empowerment model” that’s structured to increase parent motivation and effectiveness at disrupting food restriction of any form. FBT-ARFID is a collaborative approach that views the parents (or a single parent/caregiver) as  a essential resource and driver of the treatment process.  ..read more

Based on current standards, it is estimated that 69% – or roughly two out of three – U.S. adults are considered either overweight or obese yet weight stigma pervades most aspects of our lives.  Individuals in larger bodies are commonly marginalized and treated both differently and unfairly in our healthcare system, in academic and professional settings, in the media, within family systems, communities…  It’s estimated that over 40% of US adults – and even higher numbers internationally – have experienced weight stigma at some point in their lifetime. Body size-related stigma comes in ..read more

Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses that encompass a variety of problematic behaviors in relation to eating and body image. Individuals who suffer from these disorders experience a range of physical and psychological symptoms that can have detrimental effects on their overall health and well-being. Moreover, eating disorders are often accompanied by feelings of shame, guilt, and isolation, which can make it challenging for individuals to seek help and support. To address these challenges, group therapy has emerged as a crucial component of eating disorder recovery. Group therapy prov ..read more

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a specific type of eating disorder characterized by limited food intake due to sensory sensitivities, fear of adverse consequences, or other reasons unrelated to body image concerns.  Since ARFID is a relatively new diagnosis in the DSM, there have been limited randomized controlled treatment trials which means there is no formal evidence-based treatment for ARFID at this time.  That said, there are several well-designed, structured therapies garnering attention in the field and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for ARFID (CBT-AR) is am ..read more

Starting college is one of the biggest transitions in young adult life and can be particularly challenging for people with eating disorders.  Moving on to college means dramatic shifts in routines, structure, and support and then throw in the academic and social pressures, it’s understandable why this period of transition can be destabilizing.  It’s impossible not to consider the impact of such a novel landscape when it comes to food and eating – dining halls, cafeterias, late night studying and unpredictable schedules – all especially unsettling for individuals working on eating dis ..read more

Eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, binge-eating disorder and ARFID are serious conditions that can have profound physical, social and emotional consequences. Eating disorders invariably disrupt both individual and family functioning. Remorse and self-blame are frequent emotions experienced by parents of children with eating disorders. These feelings are amplified when providers distance or exclude parents from the treatment process. Families are not to blame for eating disorders. Well, only so much as they may pass along a genetic vulnerability [to developing an eating disorder] to their ..read more