Eating Disorders

Our specialists provide comprehensive, whole-person treatment for all types of eating disorders. We offer inpatient and outpatient eating disorder treatment programs to help restore your child’s health.

Why choose UCLA Health for eating disorder treatment?

UCLA Health eating disorder specialists offer inpatient and outpatient programs for eating disorder treatment. Our experts help adolescents and young adults deal with thoughts and behaviors that contribute to eating disorders.

Highlights of our program include:

Specialized treatment programs: Our treatment programs provide multiple levels of care, treatment, and support so your child can access the type of care they need, regardless of which stage of treatment they’re in.

Personalized guidance: When your child first comes to us, you may not know what level of care they need. Our skilled intake coordinators help determine which services are most appropriate and connect you and your child to the correct care providers.

Tailored, multispecialty treatment: Multiple experts work together to offer your child a full spectrum of personalized treatments. Care plans may include medical stabilization, nutrition counseling and behavioral health services.

Our services

Our programs address the needs of adolescents and young adults with all types of eating disorders. Whether families come to us for inpatient anorexia treatment or outpatient treatment for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), we can help. Our eating disorder programs and services include:

Eating Disorders Program at Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital

The Eating Disorders Program at the Stewart and Lynda Resnick UCLA Health Neuropsychiatric Hospital is internationally recognized for exceptional inpatient eating disorder treatment. We provide:

24-hour nursing supervision
Individual and family psychotherapy
Psychiatric management
Skills-building therapies

Since 1962, our eating disorder therapists have consistently helped patients and families better understand all types of eating disorders. We teach children and their families how to manage eating disorder symptoms at home, increasing the chances that treatment is successful in the long-term. For more information about this program click here.

Medical Stabilization Inpatient Program

At UCLA Health Santa Monica Hospital, a team of physicians, psychologists, dietitians, and nurses oversees medical recovery for malnourished adolescents and young adults. We focus on restoring physical health while providing psychological consultation, behavioral health plans, family education and discharge planning. For more information about this program click here.

Nourish for Life Outpatient Program

At UCLA Health Mattel Children’s Hospital, our specialists provide outpatient support for those age 26 and under. An initial consultation is offered, first with a comprehensive eating disorder focused medical assessment, followed by a consultation with our psychologist and dietician. Based on preliminary findings from each specialty, a team recommendation will be made as to treatment planning, insuring the NFL program is the best fit for treatment needs, or if other services are indicated. For more information about this program click here.

Eating disorders we treat

The distinction between “eating disorder” and “disordered eating” can be subtle. If you’re concerned about your child’s disordered eating patterns, it’s important to get treatment as soon as possible. Early treatment can help prevent the progression to an eating disorder or speed recovery from an established eating disorder.

Eating disorder symptoms and causes may be different for each patient. The major types of eating disorders include:

Anorexia nervosa: A disorder characterized by an obsessive fear of gaining weight, severe food restriction and distorted body image.

Avoidant/restrictive feeding intake disorder (ARFID): A disorder in which a person doesn’t consume enough calories for the body to function but is not obsessed with weight loss or body size.

Bulimia nervosa: An obsession with weight loss and body image that causes a person to binge eat and then attempt to vomit (purge), fast or exercise excessively.

Our expert team

For decades, our experts have helped adolescents, young adults and their families overcome eating disorders. Our team includes experts in nutrition, medicine, and psychology. This collaborative approach allows us to provide comprehensive care for your child’s mind and body.