Eating Disorders are Treatable! Hope remains even with high mortality rates

Lindsay Adler, LMFT, CEDS, E-RYT 200

Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that anorexia nervosa has an average mortality rate of 10%, and the American Journal of Psychiatry in 2009 stated bulimia nervosa has a mortality rate of 3.9%. There are many reasons for this high mortality rate, including suicide and dying from complications of starvation such as heart failure and metabolic collapse. 

This high mortality rate is important to understand, because often eating disorders are not taken seriously in our society or seem to be a taboo subject. Society even promotes eating disorders through the fitness and diet industry and through unrealistic views of body. In fact, there are even pro-anorexia and pro-bulimia websites, encouraging deadly behaviors. 

It is helpful for us to know the effects of eating disorders so that we can provide appropriate prevention and early treatment. 

Today, I want to talk about a story in the news related to the deadly nature of eating disorders, specifically anorexia nervosa. 

The story

In November, I read an article by CNN regarding a woman struggling with anorexia who went to court to obtain her right to refuse forced feedings and enter palliative care. (see article here: http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/23/health/nj-woman-eating-disorder-legal-case/index.html) This woman won that right. 

When I heard this woman was entering palliative care, I was saddened and felt compassion for her struggles because I can understand how easy it is to lose hope or get lost in the depths of the eating disorder. Also, it seemed as if the court might have been equating her eating disorder to a terminal illness, like the ending stages of cancer.

Legal arguments aside, in my experience as an eating disorder professional, I have found that even though eating disorders can be extremely difficult to treat, there is hope. 

As a professional in this field, I have seen many children, women and men struggle with eating disorders. Many of these individuals have struggled most of their lives. Yet, through determination, faith and hope, they found a place in recovery. They were (and still are) not without struggles. But, they saw hope. They did not believe their eating disorder was an incurable illness. 

Eating disorders are treatable! 

Today, I read this woman had died. You can read the article here: http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/22/health/right-to-die-anorexic-woman-dies/index.html. She had died after her parents stopped life support when she fell into a coma, only three months after being allowed to reject treatment. Her attorney responded with saying, "I'm happy my client is finally at peace and it saddens me that modern medicine and a loving, supportive family, despite all the efforts extended, weren't able to help her overcome her illness”. 

Again, I am saddened to hear about the loss of this woman’s life. And, I want to share with those struggling or those who know someone who is struggling with an eating disorder, that recovery is possible. I have witnessed the power of hope and faith in the recovery process. There are many different types of treatment available to help fight eating disorders and new treatments are being developed. Some common treatment modalities include:

• Traditional “talk” therapies such as psychodynamic, CBT, DBT, and ACT 
• Trauma therapies such EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, Sensorimotor psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems
• Experiential therapies such as art and music therapy 
• Movement therapies such as dance
• Mind-Body therapies such as yoga and meditation  
• Family Therapy
• Animal assisted therapy such as equine therapy
• Dietary Therapy
• Psychotropic medications
• And much much more! 

In short, I hope as a society, we can both understand that eating disorders are deadly and know eating disorders are treatable. It is important that we work on eating disorder prevention by educating parents, teachers, doctors, nurses, clergy, et cetera about how to detect eating disorders, reduce bodily shame, reject the dieting industry, cope with emotional stressors and use healthy supports. If we spot eating disorders early, we can not only reduce the risk of death but also help someone reach a full life in recovery.

Resources:  https://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/directors/thomas-insel/blog/2012/spotlight-on-eating-disorders.shtml#i