Eating Disorders - Getting the Help You Need Treatment Conference - Eating Disorders Treatment

Written by HealthyPlace.com Staff Writer

love those carbs: Are there any support groups for families and husbands of someone who has a eating disorder?

Dr. Rader: Yes. Some communities are lucky enough to have co-compulsive  Overeaters Anonymous groups. Many universities also have support groups for family members.

Tiffanie: I am wanting to become pregnant in the near future, but my gyn says I have an infertility problem we need to work with. Can this be caused by my bulimia?

Dr. Rader: The practice of eating disorders can be a cause of infertility. I would recommend always checking with your ob/gyn.

baby butterfly wings: I don't understand how it is possible to have anorexia and bulimia at the same time. Is that just a false piece of information?

Dr. Rader: People usually do not have both eating disorders at the same time although you can have anorexia with bulimic symptoms or vice versa. Also, it is common for an individual to start off with anorexia and then move into bulimia as they may be eating just to satisfy their family members and then purge secretly.

mleland: I was in a program for 7 weeks and wanted to get better, but relapsed immediately. How does your program work faster or differently?

Dr. Rader: Unfortunately, I do not know the specifics of the program you were in. I can only tell you that our multi-disciplinary approach will work if you are willing to put the effort in. Just because you relapsed does not mean that you did not benefit from the treatment. It is important that you work the tools that were given to you. BREAK

Bob M: What about medications Dr. Rader? Is there anything out there that can significantly help someone with an eating disorder?

Dr. Rader: Currently the most commonly used medications for eating disorders are Tofranil, Norpramin, and Prozac. These medications affect the release and uptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Some physicians are using naltrexone, a medication that blocks the natural opiods. But medication alone is not as effective without therapy.

Allison: How do eating disorders get worse over time? It seems like somehow they start off as no big deal.

Dr. Rader: Eating disorders are progressive disorders. It may seem as though they are something you can control when you first start practicing them. But like alcoholism, they can become addictive and produce a devastating cycle.

Dr. Rader: I know it's getting late. I want to thank Dr. Rader for being here tonight and for everyone in the audience who attended and those who submitted questions. The transcript of tonight's conference will be up on our eating disorders website on Saturday.

Dr. Rader: Thank you for having me as a guest speaker tonight.

Bob M: Good Night everyone.

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