Anorexia Nervosa Treatment Near Dallas
Compassionate, evidence-based treatment for anorexia nervosa at our Texas eating disorder treatment center. At Eating Disorder Solutions, we help individuals restore health, rebuild trust with their bodies, and work toward lasting recovery in a supportive, structured environment.
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Anorexia nervosa is a serious and complex eating disorder that affects both physical health and emotional well-being. At Eating Disorder Solutions, we provide specialized anorexia treatment at our Texas location for individuals who need comprehensive, compassionate care grounded in clinical expertise.
Our multidisciplinary team works closely with each client to address the medical, psychological, and nutritional aspects of anorexia. Treatment plans are carefully individualized and may include medical monitoring, therapy, nutritional support, and ongoing recovery planning. Individuals and families from across the Dallas–Fort Worth area seek care at our center for our personalized approach, small treatment setting, and commitment to long-term healing.
What is Anorexia?
Anorexia nervosa is a serious mental illness. It’s associated with one of the highest mortality risks of any psychiatric disorder. Often fueled by an intense fear of weight gain and a distorted self-image, anorexia is characterized by precise and extreme levels of food control, restriction, and exercise. It is a potentially life-threatening disease that affects both the mind and body. Despite common misconceptions, anorexia nervosa is not just thinness and under eating. Instead, it is a complex disorder affecting both mental and physical health, creating a harmful cycle of detrimental behaviors that can lead to devastating consequences.
Our Levels of Care
Every person's journey is unique. We offer personalized treatment programs designed to meet you where you are and support you every step of the way near Dallas, Texas in Weatherford.
Residential Treatment
24/7 inpatient eating disorder treatment providing structured, medically supported care in a safe, healing environment.
Outpatient Treatment
Daytime eating disorder treatment offering intensive support while allowing clients to live at home and maintain daily responsibilities.
Partial Hospitalization
High-level eating disorder treatment combining daily clinical care with increased flexibility outside of inpatient treatment.
Intensive Outpatient
High-level eating disorder treatment combining daily clinical care with increased flexibility outside of inpatient treatment.
Virtual Outpatient
Fully online eating disorder treatment delivering structured therapy and nutrition support from the comfort of home.
Aftercare
Ongoing eating disorder recovery support designed to maintain progress and reduce the risk of relapse after treatment.
Our Approach
Evidence-Based Care with Heart
We combine the latest research with compassionate, individualized care. Our multidisciplinary team works together to address the physical, emotional, and psychological aspects of eating disorders.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Identify and change harmful thought patterns and behaviors.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Build skills for emotional regulation and distress tolerance.
Trauma-Informed Care
Address underlying trauma in a safe, supportive environment.
What is The Criteria for Anorexia Nervosa?
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines anorexia nervosa by three criteria:
The first is a restriction of energy intake that leads to low body weight. The definition of low weight in anorexia nervosa is intentionally vaguely defined, so it allows for clinical judgment. In adults, it’s generally a body mass index of less than 18.5, and in kids and adolescents, it’s generally less than the fifth percentile for their own growth trajectory.
The second key criterion for anorexia nervosa is expression of fear of gaining weight, persistent restrictive eating, engagement in excessive exercising or fasting or engaging in any kind of purging behaviors.
The third criterion is a disturbance in body image, which could show up in a couple of different ways. The first would be seeing oneself as fat, even though one is underweight. The second would be having undue influence of weight and shape in terms of one’s self-worth. And then the third would be really not recognizing how significant or important it is to be at this low weight and how dangerous it could be.
What Causes Anorexia?
There’s no single factor that causes anorexia nervosa. We think of anorexia nervosa as a biopsychosocial illness. There are large scale genetic studies that show that there are genes at play in anorexia nervosa. In terms of the psychological factors, perfectionism, low self-esteem, anxiety, body dissatisfaction, overemphasis on a thin body ideal can all increase risk for eating disorders. And from a social standpoint, engagement in behaviors or activities that place a heavy emphasis on the importance of being thin can be a factor. Other social factors can include things like exposure to social media, spending a lot of time online, or involvement in groups or other activities where being thin is highly valued.
Specialized Programs
We understand that different ages and situations require different approaches. Our specialized programs are tailored to meet specific needs.
Adult Program
Specialized eating disorder treatment designed to support adults balancing recovery with work, family, and daily responsibilities.
Athlete Program
Eating disorder treatment tailored for athletes, addressing performance pressures, fueling needs, and sport-related stressors.
LGBTQ+ Program
Inclusive eating disorder treatment providing affirming, holistic care for individuals in the LGBTQ+ community.
Professionals Program
Specialized eating disorder treatment for professionals balancing recovery with work responsibilities, high stress, and the demands of daily life.
College Students Program
Specialized eating disorder treatment for professionals balancing recovery with work responsibilities, high stress, and the demands of daily life.
How Do I Recognize Anorexia Symptoms?
As with any form of disordered eating, recognizing the signs and symptoms of anorexia can help prevent lifelong health issues. Though many have a mental image of what someone with anorexia looks like, this stereotype is often far from accurate. In reality, anorexia affects people of all shapes, sizes, identities, and cultural backgrounds. Being able to recognize the signs of anorexia before it progresses to the point of emaciation is key to preventing lasting damage.
Anorexia symptoms typically fall into one of two categories: physical and behavioral. Behavioral signs of anorexia are often the first indicators before physical anorexia symptoms become apparent. While this is not a complete and comprehensive list, if you or a loved one are experiencing any of the following anorexia signs or symptoms, contact Eating Disorder Solutions today for an evaluation.
Early intervention is critical at the first sign of anorexia. If left untreated, the disorder can lead to irreversible damage to bones, organs, and potentially death from starvation or suicide. The sooner anorexia is diagnosed and treated, the better the outcome.
What Are The Anorexia Health Risks if Left Unchecked?
Left unchecked, anorexia nervosa may cause:
- Cardiovascular and gastrointestinal damage
- Kidney damage
- Diminished bone density and osteoporosis
- Brain damage and neurological issues
- Muscular atrophy, including those in the heart
- Increased risk of heart attack or stroke
Malnutrition is a serious medical condition that requires urgent attention. It can occur in anyone engaging in disordered eating behaviors, regardless of weight. Individuals with continued restrictive eating behaviors require a comprehensive eating disorder assessment and immediate intervention. When the body is starved for long enough, it undergoes a complex series of biological, metabolic and hormonal changes to ensure survival. People with severe anorexia can have orthostatic hypotension, heart rates lower than 60 beats per minute, and electrolyte imbalances that may cause arrhythmias or even lead to cardiac arrest. Early intervention helps to address the underlying causes of anorexia, including untreated co-occurring mental health disorders like anxiety, depression, OCD, or personality disorders. This multidisciplinary approach to treatment helps to support the earnest healing and personal growth necessary to overcome disordered eating and other destructive habits.
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Conditions We Treat
We provide specialized care for all types of eating disorders in Dallas, Texas.
Anorexia Nervosa
A restrictive eating disorder marked by fear of weight gain and distorted body image, requiring comprehensive medical, nutritional, and therapeutic care.
Bulimia Nervosa
An eating disorder involving cycles of binge eating and compensatory behaviors, often driven by emotional distress and body image concerns.
Binge Eating Disorder
Characterized by repeated episodes of eating large amounts of food with a sense of loss of control, without compensatory behaviors.
Compulsive Overeating
Recurrent episodes of overeating driven by emotional distress rather than physical hunger. Treatment helps address emotional triggers, reduce shame, and develop healthier coping strategies.
Body Dysmorphia
Persistent distress about perceived flaws in appearance that impact daily life. Treatment focuses on improving body image and reducing obsessive thoughts through structured therapeutic support.
Orthorexia
An unhealthy fixation on eating “clean” or “healthy” foods that leads to rigid rules and anxiety around meals. Treatment promotes flexibility, balanced nutrition, and a more sustainable relationship with food.
Co-Occurring Disorders
An eating disorder occurring alongside conditions such as anxiety, depression, or trauma. Treatment addresses both concerns together to support lasting recovery and emotional stability.
ARFID & Other Disorders
Includes avoidant or restrictive eating patterns and other specified feeding or eating disorders that require individualized treatment approaches.
Can Anorexia Be Fatal?
Yes. Anorexia is associated with one of the highest mortality risks of any psychiatric disorder. Individuals with anorexia nervosa are five times more likely to die than age-matched controls without anorexia nervosa. In addition, they’re 18 times more likely to die by suicide.
Do People With Anorexia Not Eat at All?
Actually that’s not true. People with anorexia nervosa can have either restricting type or binge eating purging type. For the folks with restricting type, they are predominantly restricting their intake, so that means that they might eat very small amounts throughout the day or they might go for long periods of time without eating or fasting. People with the binge purge type may go from periods of restrictive eating to also engaging in binge eating where they’re eating large amounts of food and feeling really out of control with it, and then also engaging in purging behaviors.
Most Insurances Accepted
We work with most major insurance providers and offer flexible payment plans
Our admissions team will verify your insurance benefits at no cost and help you understand your coverage.
Real People, Real Results
What Are The Physical Symptoms of Anorexia?
- Abnormal blood count: an estimated one-third of anorexic patients have mild anemia (low red blood cell count)
- Acrocyanosis: bluish or purple coloring of the hands and feet. The blue color comes from the decrease in blood flow and oxygen moving through the narrowed vessels to extremities
- Bloating, abdominal pain and constipation
- Bluish fingers and brittle nails
- Bradycardia: Irregular heart rate
- Cuts and calluses across the top of finger joints (a result of inducing vomiting)
- Decreased libido in adults
- Dehydration: due purging or starving, the body is deprived of nutrients
- Dental problems, such as enamel erosion, cavities, and tooth sensitivity
- Dry skin, brittle nails, and hair thinning/loss
- Edema: swollen arms and legs
- Fainting spells
- Feeling cold all of the time: low body temperature
- Infertility
- Loss of bone calcium (Osteoporosis)
- Low blood pressure: cardiac complications are arguably one of the most severe medical issues stemming from anorexia
- Low body temperature
- Low body weight
- Menstrual irregularities—amenorrhea, irregular periods or only having a period while on hormonal contraceptives (this is not considered a “true” period)
- Osteoporosis: loss of bone calcium
- Poor circulation in hands and feet
- Poor sleep and insomnia
- Poor wound healing and frequent illness
- Refusal or inability to maintain a normal body weight: a BMI ranging from below 15-16 is considered severely underweight.
- Starvation induced elevated liver enzymes: inflammation of the liver as it’s being overworked
What Are The Behavioral Signs of Anorexia?
- Adopting eating rituals, such as weighing food and spitting it out after chewing
- Avoiding eating in public and/or making excuses for not eating
- Being unable to realistically assess body weight and shape (having a distorted self-image)
- Changes in eating habits or routines, such as eating foods in a certain order or rearranging foods on a plate
- Compulsive exercise after eating to try and counter consumed calories
- Cooking meals for others without eating
- Cutting food into small pieces or eating very slowly to disguise how little is being eaten
- Denying feeling hungry
- Experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide
- Expressing a need to “burn off” calories taken in
- Feeling a strong desire to be in control
- Frequently measuring or weighing
- Going to the bathroom right after eating
- Intense fear of weight gain or being “fat,” even though underweight
- Not admitting weight loss is serious
- Obsessive calorie counting or bite counting
- Only eating foods considered “safe”: refusal to eat certain foods, progressing to restrictions against whole categories of food (e.g., no carbohydrates, no dairy, fats, etc.)
- Repeatedly looking for “flaws” in the mirror
- Skipping meals and strict ‘fasting’ rituals (only eating at certain times to avoid weight gain)
- Social withdrawal: Avoiding friends and losing interest in regular activities
- Taking medicine to reduce hunger (appetite suppressants), such as slimming or diet pills
- Wearing layers or baggy clothes to hide perceived flaws
What Psychiatric Disorders Commonly Occur With Anorexia?
Psychiatric disorders that commonly co-occur with anorexia nervosa include anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, and mood disorders like major depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, as well as substance use disorders.
Is Everyone With Anorexia Low Weight?
Not everyone with anorexia nervosa is low weight. People with a diagnosis of atypical anorexia nervosa can struggle with symptoms of anorexia nervosa and not be at a low weight. It often goes unrecognized, but many of the symptoms and characteristics, the medical and mental health consequences are just as severe.
Who Does Anorexia Affect?
The myth that anorexia nervosa affects only white affluent females is false. Eating disorders don’t discriminate. This means that anorexia nervosa cuts across sex and gender, race and ethnicity, age, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and religious beliefs. No one is immune.
Why Choose Eating Disorder Solutions Near Dallas?
Eating Disorder Solutions near Dallas offers compassionate, evidence-based care in a peaceful, home-like setting designed to help clients feel safe, supported, and understood. Our multidisciplinary team provides individualized treatment across multiple levels of care, blending clinical excellence with real-world recovery skills that translate beyond treatment. With a strong focus on nutrition, therapy, and long-term healing, we help clients build a sustainable path to recovery, not just short-term progress.