The intake process is often the first meeting between a center’s medical professionals and a person struggling with an eating disorder and mental health condition. If a person is a minor, their family may also participate in the intake process. While the order may vary based on the individual’s center’s policies, here are some of the steps that will occur during an intake process.

• Assessing the Degree of Malnutrition – Knowing the level of malnutrition is important for a person because those who are less than 70 percent of the expected body mass index (BMI) for their height and weight are severely malnourished. They will need care at a medical facility until they can achieve a healthier weight.
• Identifying Eating Attitudes and Behaviors – An intake specialist will also identify a person’s patterns of behaviors and attitudes toward eating. They will ask about their history of dieting, exercise levels, if they binge or vomit, if they have used diuretics or laxatives as means to lose weight, and how a person feels about their weight and body overall.
• Medical Health Assessment – An eating disorder can affect a person in many ways. Lack of food or chronic vomiting can lead to electrolyte losses. These can impact a person’s muscles and heart rhythms, sometimes causing bradycardia or a slowed heart rate. Sometimes, a person may experience impaired sexual development, such as failure to start a period. A doctor will also consider any psychiatric and chronic medical health conditions, such as diabetes.

These are just some of the examples of the intake process. While it can be understandably difficult to talk about a person’s history of eating patterns and mental health struggles, being as honest as possible is vital to helping an intake coordinator develop the best possible program.

How Can I Make My Treatment a Success?

Being willing to seek and accept care is a major step toward making treatment a success. It’s important that a person approach eating disorder treatment with an open mind and a willingness to explore treatment. It’s important the person remember those at the treatment facility are medical professionals with specialized training in helping people struggling with eating disorders. A person can ask questions, participate in treatment sessions, and try to engage in behaviors they are learning that are healthy.

However, sometimes a program isn’t the right fit. When this is the case, a person can explore other alternatives, all with the goal of helping them achieve better health.

Partial Hospitalization Programs for Recovery

Partial hospitalization programs are effective ways for a person to seek treatment when they struggle with an eating disorder. They can be a cost-effective alternative for a person who is medically stable enough not to require inpatient care. A person can contact eating disorder treatment centers and participate in the intake process to determine if the partial hospitalization option is the best fit for them. Through participation in the several weeks-long program that often incorporates family therapy, a person can learn more about how their disorder affects them and healthy behaviors that can help them develop a healthier relationship with food.