Eating Disorders Program

If you or someone you love struggles with an eating disorder, we can help!

For most of us, eating is a normal, often pleasurable, daily activity. However, for some, eating a meal is anything but normal or pleasant. A person with an eating disorder consumes or restricts food to satisfy a psychological need, not a physical need.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than five million Americans suffer from an eating disorder. Approximately 90 percent of those affected are women.

The disorders anorexia (self starvation) and bulimia (binge-purge) are seen predominantly in teenagers and college-age students. Yet, it can also affect professional career women (and men) as well as mothers in their 20s, 30s, 40s and beyond.

The warning signs include:

• Preoccupation with dieting, food, weight, calories and body image
• Unexplained weight loss
• Absence or irregular menstruation
• Discomfort when eating with others
• Compulsive exercise
• Ritualistic behavior, especially with food

The potential risks from eating disorders include death (in severe cases), infertility, osteoporosis, damage to family relationships, depression and many other emotional and physical health issues.

Recovery is possible, and a treatment plan should be initiated as soon as the problem is identified. Generally, the sooner the treatment, the quicker the recovery. To find out if you or someone you know may have an eating disorder, take our free Eating Disorder Questionnaire.

Where to Turn For Help

If you or someone you love struggles with an eating disorder, South Coast Medical Center cares. The Laguna Beach hospital offers a comprehensive eating disorder treatment program, including inpatient (24-hour medical care) and day treatment care.

The program, financially supported by many health plans, is designed to treat individuals, 18 years and over, suffering from anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder.

Personalized Treatment Plans For Inpatient and Day Treatment

The Eating Disorder Treatment program at South Coast Medical Center excels in meeting the personalized needs of the individual patient. Length of stay, meal plans and treatment goals vary from person to person.

Treatment is focused on helping patients understand the motivation for their food-related difficulties as well as developing behavioral strategies to control them. The psychological issues behind the eating disorder are addressed specifically. Issues on sexuality, family/relationship dynamics are focal points of the therapy education.

Both inpatient and day treatment services are available and may include the following:

• Complete medical history and physical
• Psychiatric assessment and evaluation
• Use of the full services of an acute care hospital, including an emergency department and intensive/critical care unit
• Individual, group and family therapy
• Nutrition therapy
• Education therapy on life management skills-topics such as stress reduction and anger management
• Exercise education
• Body Image workshops
• Expressive (art) therapy
• Restaurant challenges
• Chaplain services
• Collaborative meal plans

Your Treatment Team

South Coast's Eating Disorder Treatment Program features an experienced treatment team-all specially trained in eating disorder recovery. The team includes:

• Primary Care Physicians
• Psychiatrist
• Psychologist
• Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Therapist
• Therapists
• Social Workers
• Occupational therapist
• Nursing Team

Free Support Group

South Coast Medical Center sponsors a free support group for eating disorders. Topics covered include overcoming self-destructive eating habits, handling and expressing difficult feelings, anger, assertiveness and boundary setting, and developing positive ways to nurture and care for oneself.

The support group meets every Monday, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm in the Community Room at SCMC, and is open to the public. For support group information, call (949) 240-7806 or 499-7504 ext. 2. You may also register online.

Help is Just a Phone Call Away

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, seek help today. Take our free Eating Disorder Assessment. Then call us for help.

To discuss eating disorder treatment options as well as health plan coverage, call the Eating Disorder Program Coordinator at South Coast Medical Center at (949) 499-7504. Many health plans provide coverage for eating disorder treatment.

For More Information

For further details on South Coast Medical Center's Eating Disorder program, call (949) 499-7504. Or email us with your questions.