Eating Disorder Treatment in South Carolina

Virtual Eating Disorder Treatment

In-person eating disorder treatment centers are harder to come by in South Carolina than in some other states. But if you live too far from these programs or have issues around transportation or mobility, there are still ways to receive the care you need.

Virtual eating disorder treatment extends eating disorder care to patients in all corners of South Carolina, as long as they have internet access. These programs use the same comprehensive treatment approach favored by in-person facilities, and can also offer specialized treatment, such as nutritional counseling and other forms of personalized care.

While virtual eating disorder treatment is still relatively new, studies have shown that it can be just as effective as in-person treatment in many cases.²

Additional South Carolina Eating Disorder Help

If you're still on the fence about whether or how to start eating disorder treatment, there are other places to look for help.

The South Carolina Department of Health is open to all residents of the state. The program provides general information on eating disorders, including mental and physical symptoms and the potential medical complications of significant weight loss. They can also help with care coordination or arranging referrals for specialists or treatment programs.

If you qualify for South Carolina's Medicaid program, you may have access to additional help. The program not only offers information on eating disorders, but it can also provide coverage for related treatments through its behavioral health services. This coverage may also extend to commonly co-occurring conditions, such as mood and substance use disorders.

Top Eating Disorder Centers in South Carolina: What to Keep in Mind

South Carolina may have fewer higher-level eating disorder programs than other areas of the country, but it's still important to make sure any treatment center you or your loved one enrolls in fits your needs and priorities.

Making sure the center offers the appropriate level of care is essential. The most common levels of care for eating disorders include:

• Residential treatment program
• Partial hospitalization program
• Intensive outpatient program
• Regular outpatient services

It's also important to check whether the program or practitioner accepts your health insurance. This can help eliminate surprise bills down the line or other insurance-related issues that can cause disruptions to care.

Having a treatment team with appropriate experience and comprehensive knowledge is also key. Make sure your treatment plan attends to your or your loved one's physical, mental, and emotional health.

It can feel overwhelming to keep all these factors in mind, but it will help ensure you wind up with the best treatment possible, making a great first step on the journey toward a healthier and happier future.

Reference List

1. Social & Economic Cost of Eating Disorders in South Carolina. (2018). Harvard University. Accessed June 2025.
2. Steiger H, Booij L, Crescenzi O, Oliverio S, Singer I, Thaler L, St-Hilaire A, Israel M. (2022). In-person versus virtual therapy in outpatient eating-disorder treatment: A COVID-19 inspired study. International Journal of Eating Disorders; 55(1):145-150.