Eating Disorders are Not One Size Fits All

“There is an inaccurate impression, reinforced in the media, of what a person with an eating disorder looks like,” says Rebecca Boswell, PhD, Supervising Psychologist, Princeton Center for Eating Disorders at Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center. “The truth is, anyone can be impacted. Eating disorders are not uncommon in larger-bodied people, although they are often unrecognized and untreated.”

Princeton Center for Eating Disorders provides inpatient treatment for individuals of all body shapes and sizes experiencing medical complications of disordered eating, such as anorexia nervosa, avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Treatment is available for those ages eight and up, is individualized, and includes group sessions where patients work to understand the origins of their eating disorder and work toward addressing it.

Getting to the Root of the Problem

The multifactorial causes of eating disorders are often similar in people of all body sizes, and the goals in recovery are the same—to develop healthy coping mechanisms and a balanced approach to food and exercise. The medical risks associated with eating disorders are similar for people of all sizes, including malnutrition, electrolyte imbalance, and low blood pressure and bone density. Regardless of body type, an eating disorder impacts every system in the body.

“Because the media and society in general often look at larger-bodied people differently, they can be less likely to recognize that they have an eating disorder that requires treatment,” says Boswell. “Instead, they are simply encouraged to diet, exercise, and focus on losing weight, which can make eating disorders worse. There may be underlying challenges that need to be addressed for a successful recovery. That is what Princeton Center for Eating Disorders focuses on.”