Assessment of the Problem

The first, most important step in preparing to get treatment for an eating disorder is to obtain a complete assessment so that the eating disorder and any associated mental or physical problems can be appropriately diagnosed. The assessment should be by a health professional knowledgeable about eating disorders e.g. doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist.
Usually the health care professional who provides the initial assessment will be able to diagnose the eating disorder. A complete assessment will include a medical evaluation to rule out any other physical cause for the symptoms, to assess the impact the illness has had to date, and to determine whether immediate medical intervention is needed.
Often, physical problems are associated with an eating disorder and a psychiatrist, internist, family practitioner or pediatrician may need to be seen if these problems are suspected. The most common physical consequences of eating disorders include osteoporosis (thinning of the bones), heart problems (especially irregular heart rhythms) from electrolyte imbalance, kidney problems (resulting from repeated dehydration from starvation or purge behavior), and brain abnormalities (enlarged spaces in the brain). In addition gastrointestinal problems are common and include constipation, diarrhea, reflux, nausea and heartburn. People who have eating disorders may have other associated mental illnesses; these include obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, depression, social phobias, trauma and chemical dependencies. The health care professional may be able to detect these psychiatric problems as well.