Eating Disorders: Identified, Defined & Treated

This is an introductory course about Eating Disorders. The course is designed both for the clinician, who has no knowledge of eating disorders, as well as for the experienced eating disorder therapist, who is interested in exploring a different way of thinking about eating disorders. The course will introduce clinicians to the complexities of eating disorders. It will provide a general overview, a discussion of treatment and treatment outcomes, a review of cultural and media influences on body image, a discussion of “normal” eating and a set of resources for clinicians working with eating disordered clients.

The course is comprised of four articles, including a narrated video and an audiotaped interview. The first article provides an overview of eating disorders including definitions, etiologies, treatment and treatment outcomes, biopsychosocial models of treatment, and eating disorders as chronic stress-related conditions. The second article addresses body image, the media, culture and normal eating. The movie reports on the co-incidence of Substance Abuse and Eating Disorders. This is followed by an article which explores the incidence of eating disorders in ballet.In contrast to the first four documents, the last section is designed to assist clinicians in identifying eating disorders, in making decisions about when to use varying levels of care, and in recognizing the signs and medical consequences of various eating disorders. An interview with CEO and Founder of Mirasol, Dr. Jeanne Rust, is presented, as are handouts and forms. Additional resources and references are provided for further study, but they are not part of the course.