Eating Disorder Treatment for Teens and Adults

An eating disorder is a mental health condition characterized by unhealthy patterns of eating and distorted thoughts about food, weight, or body shape. These conditions are serious and can affect a person’s physical and emotional well-being. It’s important to note that eating disorders can affect people of all body types and genders.

While eating disorders can look different in each person, common behaviors include restricting food, binge eating, purging, or obsessively exercising. Eating disorders often involve feelings of shame, isolation, and a lack of control. Because eating disorders are complex, effective treatment addresses the whole person—not just the food-related behaviors. Without treatment, these conditions can lead to long-term health consequences. 

There are a variety of eating disorders, each with distinct characteristics. Here are some of the most commonly diagnosed eating disorders:

• Anorexia nervosa: Restricting food intake, leading to low body weight and intense fear of gaining weight.
• Bulimia nervosa: Cycles of binge eating followed by purging (e.g., vomiting, excessive exercise, or laxative use).
• Binge eating disorder (BED): Recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of food, often quickly and to the point of discomfort, without regular purging behaviors.

It’s important to note that eating disorders can present differently and often overlap with other mental health conditions.

Symptoms vary widely depending on the type of eating disorder but may include:

• Obsession with weight, calories, or food rules
• Restriction or avoidance of entire food groups
• Eating in secret or feeling out of control when eating
• Frequent trips to the bathroom after meals
• Dizziness, hair thinning, or digestive issues
• Anxiety or guilt after eating
• Withdrawal from social events involving food

In some ways, yes. While the core symptoms of an eating disorder may be similar for people of all ages, teens and adults often face different challenges in eating disorder treatment. Adolescents may be more vulnerable to peer pressure, social media influence, or academic stress, while adults may struggle more with co-occurring conditions like depression, trauma, or substance use. 

At Charlie Health, we tailor treatment to a client’s age and developmental stage. Teens may benefit from more family involvement and support with school integration, while adults often require care coordination for work, parenting, or other responsibilities. Our personalized care model helps meet each person where they are.

Eating disorders affect nearly 30 million people in the U.S. in their lifetime across all ages, genders, and backgrounds. And rates continue to rise—especially among teens and young adults. Despite their prevalence, eating disorders are still widely misunderstood, which can delay diagnosis and treatment.

Eating disorders don’t have a single cause—they typically develop from a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors. These may include:

• Genetics or a family history of eating disorders or mental health conditions
• Past trauma, including bullying, neglect, or abuse
• Social or cultural pressures around body image
• Dieting behaviors or comments about weight, especially during formative years
• Perfectionism, low self-esteem, or rigid thinking patterns