Living With Food: The Science Supporting Eating Disorder Treatment

A primary care physician (PCP) is a necessary part of eating disorder treatment. In fact, the PCP is often the first person with whom you will discuss your eating disorder and eating disorder treatment. For many clients who come to CCED it is the PCP who makes the initial recommendation. PCPs have varying knowledge of eating disorders. Some are experts and some may only have a passing knowledge. As a patient, it is therefore crucial that you are able to share information with your PCP that will help them be most effective in your care. One of the things we can do at CCED is to provide you with resources to make your relationship with your PCP as therapeutic as possible. At CCED we have worked with the Academy for Eating Disorders to prepare guidelines for the PCP. Please go to the link through our resources page to see the guide that AED has prepared. Or click here.

Your PCP may be the only medical professional who knew you before your eating disorder appeared or became severe enough to require specialized care. As a result they will be able to share information with your eating disorder team that will help guide your recovery. The PCP therefore has multiple roles. One will be early recognition and diagnosis of the eating disorder. A second will be monitoring you throughout treatment to insure that medical side effects are not present. Third is to provide background information about previous health, weight growth, and development that will guide the goals of eating disorder treatment. Fourth will be to consult as a member of your treatment team for recommendations on the appropriate level of care. 

At CCED we will actively engage your PCP at all levels of care. If you do not have a physician to work with when you come here we will assist you in finding one who is comfortable working with patients with eating disorders.

If you have any questions or comments about this post please email blog@eatingdisorderscleveland.org.

Contributions by Sarah Emerman