The treatment of adolescent eating disorders

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The Treatment of Adolescent Eating Disorders
Presented By Ellern Mede
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What is Eating Disorder?
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• Overview

Eating disorders are characterised by an abnormal
attitude towards food that causes someone to
change their eating habits and behaviour. A
adolescent with an eating disorder focuses
excessively on weight and shape, leading them to
make unhealthy choices about food with damaging
results to their health. Eating disorders affect
thinking, memory and information processing. They
are associated with thinking in a detail-focused
and inflexible manner. The eating disorder often
serves an important purpose for the adolescent
who has it perhaps making them feel more in
control or special in some way. 
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• Types

Anorexia Nervosa When an adolescent tries to
keep their weight as low as possible for
example, by starving themselves or exercising
excessively. Bulimia  - When an adolescent goes
through periods of binge eating and is then
deliberately sick or uses laxatives (medication
to help empty the bowels) to try to control their
weight. Binge Eating Disorder (BED) - When an
adolescent feels compelled to overeat large
amounts of food in a short time. Other Specified
Eating Disorders (OSFED)  - When an adolescent
has some but not all of the signs of typical
eating disorders. Selective Eating
Disorder (SED) - Also known as
avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder
(ARFID)  is when an adolescent limits their
consumption of certain foods based on the foods
appearance, smell, taste, texture, or a past
negative experience with the food.
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• Treatment

Getting a diagnosis is only the first step
towards recovery from an eating disorder.
Treating an eating disorder generally involves a
combination of psychological and nutritional
counselling, along with medical and psychiatric
monitoring. Treatment must address the eating
disorder symptoms and medical consequences, as
well as psychological, biological, interpersonal,
and cultural forces that contribute to or
maintain the eating disorder.
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How Ellern Mede can help you?
Ellern Mede has been providing evidence-based
specialised treatment for children and young
people with eating disorders since 2000. We
support children and young people aged 8 to 18
years, with a full care pathway to achieve
exceptional rates of recovery. In
addition, Ellern Mede Barnet has a four bed ward
for young adults up to 22 years transitioning
from CAMHS to adult services, the community or
back home. At Ellern Mede, eating disorder
treatments are available for children
and adolescents on an outpatient and inpatient
level. Contact us today at 02032097900.
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• Conclusion

Ellern Medes specialist team is made up of
Consultant Psychiatrists, Psychologists,
Psychotherapists, Family Therapists, Dieticians,
Activity Coordinators, Nurses, Social Workers,
Occupational Therapist and specialist Healthcare
Assistants. Eating disorders is all that we do
and we have an excellent record of helping
patients achieve a better quality of life.
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A word from one of our patients

• It has been seven months since I was discharged.
  I called to speak to Dr Hind
• Al-Khairulla my consultant psychiatrist because I
  want everyone at Ellern Mede
• to know that I am happy, I believe in myself and
  my future and I have to thank
• you all for my recovery. I am close to finishing
  my first year at College.

-Former patient
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Thank You