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Anorexia nervosa is characterized by low body weight and body image distortion with an obsessive fear of gaining weight. Individuals with anorexia often control body weight by voluntary starvation, purging, vomiting, excessive exercise, or other weigh control measures, such as diet pills or diuretic drugs. It often primarily affects young adolescent... more

Bulimia Nervosa is a psychological condition in which the subject engages in recurrent binge eating followed by intentional purging. This purging is done in order to compensate for the excessive intake of the food and to prevent weight gain. Purging typically takes the form of vomiting; inappropriate use of laxatives... more

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is currently listed under Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified in the DSM-IV-TR.  In binge eating disorder, the person does not regularly engage in compensatory behaviors, such as, vomiting, fasting or doing strenuous exercise after binge eating.  Another eating disorder category under Eating Disorder NOS meets all the criteria for Bulimia except that binge eating and compensatory behaviors are less than two times per week or for less than three months.   Often, people with Binge Eating Disorder are overweight or obese.. more
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About Dr. Pitts
Dr. Patricia Pitts is the Chief Executive Officer of The Bella Vita established in 1985. She is a nationally renowned expert in the treatment of anorexia, bulimia, binge-eating and disordered eating. She has addressed a variety of national and... more
Partial Hospitalization Program at The Bella Vita
Our preferred method of intensively treating those patients with severe eating disorders, our Partial Hospitalization Program is an effective, result oriented therapy  that imbues our patients with a sense of ability and confidence towards these...more
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You can subscribe to The Bella Vita newsletter, The Vista Bella, and view current and past issues for more information on treating and overcoming eating disorders... more


Excerpt from newsetter: Relaxation Techniques

Ahh!  Relaxation!  You’ve had a hectic day.  You feel stressed from head to toe and have anxiously awaited the moment to finally take time to really relax and let go of the day’s worries and concerns.  You kick off your shoes, change into comfortable clothes, and go to your spot in your home.  Suddenly your head starts in - “What did my boss mean when he said... more
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What is Anorexia?

What is Anorexia?  Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that is characterized by a distorted body image, low body weight combined with an obsessive fear of weight gain.  An anorexic controls their weight by starvation, exercise, vomiting and purging. Other factors include:  continue...

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Why do people have Eating Disorders?

Why do people have Eating Disorders?

  • Need for Control
  • Perfectionism,
  • High Achiever
  • Low Self Esteem
  • Depression and Anxiety
  • Relational Difficulties
  • Media Influence
  • Trauma
  • Difficulty expressing feelings and thoughts
continue...

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What is Disordered Eating?

What is Disordered Eating? A wide variety of irregular eating patterns and behaviors define disordered eating including:  While Disordered Eating is not an Eating Disorder, it can lead to one Focus on food, weight, body shape and size turns into strict eating and exercise habits compromising continue...

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What is Bulimia?

What is Bulimia? Bulimia is an eating disorder that is defined by periodic binge eating followed deliberate purging.  By purging, a bulimic compensates for excessive eating and to prevent gaining weight.  “Binges” & then “purges” “Binges” - out of control eating including secretive continue...

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Eating Disorder Statistics

Eating Disorder Statistics: Eating disorders afflict 7 million American girls & woman each year Eating disorders affect 1 million men (10% boys) 80% of American women are dissatisfied with their appearance 25% men & 40% women are dieting on any given day in the U.S Of the 5,000 Ads shown continue...

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