Eating Disorder Treatment
in Massachusetts
Eating disorders are among the most complex and serious mental health conditions — and among the most treatable when the right support is in place. At Bedre Health, we provide the psychiatric component of eating disorder care with the thoroughness and compassion this work demands.
More Than a Relationship With Food
Eating disorders are serious psychiatric conditions — not lifestyle choices, phases, or failures of willpower. They involve complex interactions between brain chemistry, psychological factors, trauma history, and cultural pressures. They affect people of every gender, age, body size, and background.
Eating disorders carry the highest mortality rate of any mental health condition. Early, comprehensive care significantly improves outcomes. The psychiatric component — accurate diagnosis, medication management, and coordination with a treatment team — is essential to that care.
If you or someone you know is in crisis: Contact the National Eating Disorders Association helpline at 1-800-931-2237 or the Alliance for Eating Disorders helpline at 1-866-662-1235. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Types of Eating Disorders We Treat
Anorexia Nervosa
Severely restricted eating, intense fear of weight gain, and distorted body image — often with serious medical consequences requiring coordinated care.
Bulimia Nervosa
Cycles of binge eating followed by purging behaviors. Often hidden and associated with significant shame, anxiety, and depression.
Binge Eating Disorder
Recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of food with loss of control and distress — without purging. The most common eating disorder in the United States.
ARFID
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder — extreme food avoidance based on sensory characteristics, fear of choking, or lack of interest in eating, not body image concerns.
OSFED
Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder — clinically significant eating disorder presentations that don't meet full criteria for the above diagnoses but are equally serious.
Orthorexia
An obsessive focus on "healthy" or "clean" eating that causes significant distress and functional impairment — not yet an official DSM diagnosis but clinically well-recognized.
Signs That Warrant a Psychiatric Evaluation
Eating disorders often develop gradually and may be hidden — even from the person experiencing them. These warning signs indicate a comprehensive evaluation is warranted.
Eating Disorders Rarely Occur Alone
Depression Very common co-occurrence → Anxiety / GAD Common → OCD Significant overlap → PTSD & Trauma Frequent underlying factor → PMDD Cyclical symptom worsening → ADHD Often underdiagnosed alongside →Insurance Accepted
Aetna · Blue Cross Blue Shield · Point32 (Harvard/Tufts) · OPTUM · Evernorth · Mass General Brigham · Medicare
The Psychiatric Role in Eating Disorder Care
Comprehensive eating disorder treatment typically requires a team — a therapist specializing in eating disorders, a dietitian, a medical provider, and a psychiatric provider. At Bedre Health, we fill the psychiatric role: evaluation, diagnosis, medication management, and coordination with the rest of your care team.
We do not provide nutritional counseling or eating disorder-specific therapy directly, but we work closely alongside providers who do — and we help identify and treat the co-occurring psychiatric conditions that are often central to eating disorder recovery.
Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation
A thorough 60-minute assessment of your eating disorder presentation, co-occurring mental health conditions, psychiatric history, and medical context — the foundation for an effective care plan.
Medication Management
Several medications have evidence for eating disorder treatment — particularly for bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and co-occurring depression, anxiety, and OCD. We prescribe and monitor carefully. Learn more.
Care Team Coordination
We coordinate directly with your therapist, dietitian, and primary care provider to ensure your psychiatric care is fully integrated with the rest of your treatment — not isolated from it.
Co-Occurring Condition Treatment
Depression, anxiety, OCD, and trauma are extremely common alongside eating disorders — and often need direct treatment for eating disorder recovery to succeed. We address the full picture.
Already working with a therapist or dietitian? We can step in as the psychiatric provider on your existing care team — coordinating with your current providers so your treatment is fully integrated. No need to start over.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a psychiatric provider and a therapist for eating disorder treatment?
A psychiatric provider (like our PMHNP) focuses on diagnosis, medication management, and the medical/psychiatric components of eating disorder care. A therapist provides the talk therapy component — CBT, DBT, FBT, or other evidence-based approaches. Both are typically needed for comprehensive eating disorder treatment, and they work best when coordinated together.
Can medication help with eating disorders?
Yes, for several eating disorder presentations. Fluoxetine (Prozac) is FDA-approved for bulimia nervosa. Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) is FDA-approved for binge eating disorder. Medications for co-occurring depression, anxiety, and OCD can also significantly support eating disorder recovery. The right medication depends on your specific diagnosis and full clinical picture.
I'm not sure if what I'm experiencing is a "real" eating disorder. Should I still reach out?
Yes, absolutely. You don't need to meet a textbook definition before you deserve support. If your relationship with food, eating, or your body is causing you distress or affecting your life, that's reason enough to talk to someone. An evaluation will give you clarity — and clarity is where effective help begins.
Do you treat eating disorders in teenagers?
Yes. Bedre Health treats patients ages 13 and older. Eating disorders frequently emerge during adolescence, and early intervention significantly improves long-term outcomes. We coordinate with parents and existing school or therapy providers as appropriate.
Can I receive eating disorder psychiatric care via telehealth in Massachusetts?
Yes. Bedre Health provides psychiatric evaluation and medication management via HIPAA-compliant telehealth to patients anywhere in Massachusetts and other licensed states. Telehealth is a practical option for many people in eating disorder recovery — no waiting room, no travel, care from the privacy of home.
What if I need a higher level of care than outpatient?
Eating disorders sometimes require intensive outpatient (IOP), partial hospitalization (PHP), or residential treatment — particularly for medical stabilization or when outpatient care alone isn't sufficient. We're transparent about when a higher level of care is clinically indicated and can help coordinate referrals to appropriate programs in Massachusetts.
How quickly can I get an appointment?
We typically offer same-week appointments for new patients. No referral is needed to get started. Please reach out by text, phone, or email — whichever feels easiest.
Serving Massachusetts & Beyond
You Deserve Care That Sees the Full Picture
Same-week appointments available now.
No referral needed. First consultation is free.
✉️ Email Us or call (781) 488-6163