Eating Disorder Hope is an independent resource for eating disorder education, treatment guidance, and provider discovery, powered by Within Health. Within Health is a specialized virtual eating disorder treatment provider dedicated to helping people build lasting recovery.
Eating Disorder Treatment Options
The severity of the eating disorder and any co-occurring disorders will determine the initial treatment level you or your loved one should pursue. However, beginning with outpatient care is typical.
Health professionals working in outpatient centers can determine if a higher level of care is needed for specific eating disorders and refer them as necessary.
The following are the typical levels and types of eating disorder treatment:
Comparison Table
Different treatments are available depending on your specific situation and eating disorder. Eating disorders treated at these levels include everything from anorexia nervosa to binge eating disorder.
| Support / treatment | Level of support | Time & structure | What it may include | Often suited for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-guided resources & apps | Self-directed | On demand | Education, tools, tracking, exercises | Supplemental recovery support |
| Peer & support groups | Community | Periodic | Peer connection, education, shared support | Community and additional support |
| Outpatient | Lower clinical | Periodic appointments | Therapy, nutrition and medical/psychiatric care as needed | People able to progress with periodic clinical care |
| IOP | Moderate | Multiple days/week | Therapy, groups, nutrition and meal support | People needing more structure than outpatient |
| PHP | High | Most of the day, multiple days/week | Intensive multidisciplinary care and supported meals | People needing significant daily support |
| Residential | 24-hour | Live-in | Structured treatment and continuous support | People requiring a 24-hour treatment environment |
| Inpatient | Acute | Hospital-based, 24-hour | Medical/psychiatric stabilization and monitoring | Acute medical or psychiatric needs |
Levels of Care Explained
Outpatient
What it is:
This treatment is the least restrictive level of care for those with eating disorders. As part of an outpatient program, you may see a nutritionist, therapist, and other recovery professionals approximately two to three times per week.
What to know:
This level of care can be helpful if you need to continue to work or attend school. Outpatient treatment is also desirable if you do not have the right health insurance to cover higher levels of care but are looking for assistance to stay in recovery.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
What it is:
Programs at this level usually meet several times a week with each patient, ranging from two to five days a week.
What to know:
An IOP is designed for people who need more support than outpatient treatment but still have some flexibility to remain working or in school.
Treatment options typically include:
- Individualized therapy
- Personalized nutrition consultation
- Topic-focused groups
- Family support groups
Partial Hospitalization
What it is:
Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) are a step down from inpatient or residential treatment. Instead of receiving full-time (24-hour) care in a hospital setting, you attend PHP treatment in a structured environment for several hours a day on multiple days of the week.
What to know:
This is best for those who still need significant support from staff but are medically and mentally stable enough to begin transitioning back into their normal routines.
Inpatient/Hospital Eating Disorder Treatment
What it is:
This level of treatment offers a continuum of care 24 hours a day in a hospital setting. The primary focus of this level of care is medical stabilization and interruption of weight loss, with typical stays of less than three weeks.
What to know:
Once you’re considered medically stable, you are usually discharged to a residential treatment center for ongoing care.
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Supplemental Treatment Resources
Further treatment resources available to those with eating disorders include support groups or self-help options.
Self-Guided Apps
What it is:
Self-guided resources and apps can provide accessible tools for learning about eating disorders and supporting recovery. Depending on the resource, they may offer educational content, guided exercises, journaling or tracking tools, coping strategies, and other resources that can be used independently.
What to know:
Self-guided tools can be helpful for education, reinforcing skills learned in treatment, or providing additional support between appointments and throughout recovery. However, they are not a substitute for professional assessment or treatment when clinical care is needed. Look for resources developed or reviewed by qualified eating disorder professionals, and consider discussing their use with your treatment team if you are currently receiving care.
Support Groups
What it is:
Support groups bring together people with shared experiences to connect, learn from one another, and receive encouragement. Groups may be peer-led or professionally facilitated and can be available for people experiencing eating disorders as well as family members, caregivers, and other supporters.
What to know:
Support groups can provide valuable connection and help reduce isolation before, during, and after treatment. They can complement professional care but are not a substitute for clinical treatment when it is needed. Groups vary in their approach and structure, so look for programs with clear guidelines and facilitators who understand eating disorders.
Alumni Programs
What it is:
Alumni programs provide ongoing connection and support for people who have completed an eating disorder treatment program. Depending on the program, they may include support groups, educational events, community activities, check-ins, and opportunities to stay connected with others in recovery.
What to know:
Recovery continues beyond formal treatment, and alumni programs can help people maintain connection, reinforce recovery skills, and access additional support as they navigate everyday life. Alumni programs vary by treatment provider and are generally intended to complement but not replace ongoing clinical care when it is needed.
Continuing Care
What it is:
After discharge from residential and/or inpatient programs, you can continue care. This allows you to continue having periodic sessions with your primary therapist and nutritionist for ongoing recovery support.
What to know:
The overall treatment team determines the frequency of sessions at the higher level of care and before discharge.
How to Decide
Choosing a level of care isn’t a decision you have to make on your own. An eating disorder professional can assess your symptoms, medical and nutritional needs, mental health, daily functioning, support system, and treatment history to help determine what level of support may be appropriate.
The right level of care can also change throughout recovery. A professional can help identify when more support may be needed or when it may be appropriate to step down to a less intensive level of care. The goal is to match the level of support to your needs at each stage of recovery.
Your treatment team will help you make a good decision, but these guidelines from the National Eating Disorders Association may help: [1]
- Intensive outpatient: This form of care is best for medically and psychiatrically stable people.
- Partial hospitalization: This form of eating disorder care is best for those who are medically stable but still functionally impaired and in need of daily care. Partial hospitalization is also helpful for people engaging in daily disordered eating, such as purging or fasting.
- Residential: This form of care is best for people who are medically stable but psychiatrically impaired and need more than outpatient care can provide.
- Inpatient: This form of care is best for those with mental and physical health conditions that must be monitored closely.
Be honest with your treatment team about how you’re thinking, feeling, and reacting. If they offer a form of care that makes you uncomfortable, explain why a different option might be better for you.
But remember that your team is qualified to make good decisions on your behalf. Eating disorders can change how you think and react. If you’re not sure which mode of treatment is best, let your team guide you.
Resources
- Types of Treatment. (n.d.). National Eating Disorders Association. Accessed September 2022.
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