Achieve Recovery from Atypical Anorexia with Outpatient Nutrition Therapy in the St. Louis Area
What is the difference between atypical anorexia and anorexia nervosa?
“Atypical” implies that the individual meets MOST criteria for anorexia nervosa but does not exhibit the low body weight that we might see in someone with the diagnosis of anorexia. Regardless, they still need help, asap - weight loss or not!
Atypical Anorexia Symptoms:
Compared to anorexia nervosa, we see restriction of food intake, fear of gaining weight, distorted body image, preoccupation with food and weight and excessive exercise. Some physical concerns include fatigue, dizziness, irregular menstruation, GI issues, and a sense of feeling cold all the time. These individuals may also withdraw from social events, isolate themselves and in turn experience an increase in depression, anxiety, perfectionism, and low self esteem.
Atypical Anorexia Treatment:
Treatment is really no different than any other eating disorder we may treat in our practice. We would provide nutrition therapy to clients struggling with atypical anorexia by prescribing meal guides, breaking down rules and beliefs around food and exercise, ensuring they are fueling appropriately and working alongside their support system and team of other professionals such as therapists, doctors, parents, etc.
Does insurance cover nutrition therapy for anorexia?
We are in-network with many insurance companies. Insurance-based nutrition counseling is based on your insurance provider's approval and specific insurance plan. We can only provide services based on what they allow, following their specific guidelines. Such perimeters include:
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Limitations in visits
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Requiring a certain amount of time in between appointments
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No additional support between appointments
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Check your medical nutrition therapy benefits here.
While nutritional counseling can be beneficial for various conditions, we find that, specifically for those suffering from disordered eating, continuous support and ongoing accountability is the game changer in achieving recovery.
We believe that full recovery is possible with the right support and treatment. We look forward to being part of your healing process.