Teen Eating Disorder Treatment for Children and Adolescents in Utah

Eating disorders can seriously affect a young person’s physical health, emotional well-being, relationships, and education. Symptoms such as food restriction, binge eating, purging, compulsive exercise, extreme fatigue, and sudden changes in appearance can be frightening for the entire family.

An eating disorder is not a phase, a lifestyle choice, or an attempt to seek attention. It is a serious mental health condition that can become medically dangerous without appropriate care.

Teenagers with eating disorders may also experience anxiety, depression, trauma, obsessive thoughts, low self-esteem, or difficulty managing emotions. For lasting progress, treatment should address the young person’s eating behaviors as well as the emotional concerns connected to them.

At New Beginnings Behavioral Health & Wellness, we help children, adolescents, teens, and families understand complex emotional and behavioral health concerns. Our admissions team can evaluate the young person’s needs and help families determine whether one of our programs is appropriate or whether specialized eating-disorder care is required.

Understanding Adolescent Eating Disorder Treatment

Adolescent eating disorder treatment addresses serious changes in eating habits, thoughts about food, body-image concerns, and behaviors used to control weight or cope with emotional distress.

A young person may severely limit food, binge eat, vomit after meals, misuse laxatives, or exercise far beyond what is healthy. Other teens may avoid food because they fear choking, vomiting, or experiencing an uncomfortable texture.

Eating disorders can affect young people of any gender, background, or body size. A teenager does not have to appear extremely thin to be seriously ill.

Effective treatment may involve several areas of care, including:

• Medical evaluation and monitoring
• Nutritional counseling
• Individual therapy
• Group therapy
• Family therapy
• Psychiatric care
• Medication management when appropriate
• School support
• Relapse-prevention planning
• Treatment for anxiety, depression, trauma, or other conditions

The correct level of care depends on the young person’s diagnosis, medical condition, eating behaviors, safety, emotional health, and ability to function at home and school.

Eating Disorder Signs in Teens

Eating disorders can be difficult to recognize. Young people often hide their behaviors because they feel ashamed, fear losing control, or do not believe that they need help.

Parents may first notice changes in mood, family meals, exercise habits, school performance, or social activities.

Possible warning signs include:

• Skipping meals
• Claiming to have already eaten
• Avoiding family meals
• Eating alone or in secret
• Hiding food or food wrappers
• Following strict rules about food
• Cutting out entire food groups
• Eating only a small number of foods
• Counting calories repeatedly
• Measuring or weighing food
• Taking unusually small bites
• Moving food around without eating it
• Leaving the table immediately after meals
• Going to the bathroom during or after eating
• Eating unusually large amounts of food
• Reporting a loss of control while eating
• Exercising despite illness, injury, or exhaustion
• Becoming distressed when unable to exercise
• Weighing themselves frequently
• Checking their appearance repeatedly
• Wearing loose or layered clothing to hide body changes
• Vomiting or using other methods to influence weight
• Becoming highly focused on dieting or “clean” eating

Emotional and social warning signs may include:

• Intense fear of gaining weight
• Ongoing dissatisfaction with appearance
• Frequent comparisons with other people
• Irritability around meals
• Anxiety about eating in public
• Shame or guilt after eating
• Withdrawal from friends and family
• Loss of interest in favorite activities
• Perfectionism
• Rigid thinking
• Depression
• Low self-esteem
• Difficulty concentrating
• A strong need for control
• Denial that anything is wrong

Possible physical warning signs include:

• Sudden or unexplained weight changes
• Failure to grow as expected
• Feeling weak, tired, dizzy, or cold
• Fainting
• Stomach pain
• Constipation
• Sleep problems
• Menstrual changes
• Dental problems
• Swelling around the face or jaw
• Dry skin
• Changes in hair
• Dehydration
• Reduced strength
• Decreased athletic performance

One symptom does not always mean that a teenager has an eating disorder. However, repeated changes in food, exercise, physical health, body image, or daily behavior should be taken seriously.

What Is a Secondary Eating Disorder?

A secondary eating disorder or disordered-eating pattern may develop alongside another primary condition, such as depression, anxiety, trauma, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, or another behavioral health concern.

For example, a young person experiencing depression may use food to cope with sadness or emotional numbness. A teenager with anxiety may become highly focused on controlling food because other parts of life feel uncertain.

Trauma may also affect how a young person relates to their body, emotions, and sense of control.

Even when eating concerns appear connected to another condition, the behavior should not be ignored. Treatment may need to address both the underlying mental health concerns and the eating-related symptoms.

A complete assessment can help determine whether the eating behavior is:

• A symptom of another mental health condition
• A separate eating-disorder diagnosis
• A medical or sensory concern
• A combination of several conditions

Treating only the anxiety, depression, or trauma may not be enough if the young person has developed an active eating disorder.

Common Types of Teen Eating Disorders

Eating disorders can take several forms. A young person may experience symptoms from one condition or more than one type of eating disorder.

A qualified healthcare professional must complete an evaluation before providing a diagnosis.

Teen Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa involves severe food restriction, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted view of body weight or shape.

A teenager with anorexia may:

• Skip meals
• Eat extremely small portions
• Deny feeling hungry
• Follow strict food rules
• Avoid foods they believe are unhealthy
• Exercise excessively
• Fear gaining weight
• Check their body repeatedly
• Withdraw from social meals
• Refuse to recognize the seriousness of the condition

Some young people with anorexia lose a large amount of weight. Others may restrict food severely while remaining at an average or higher body weight.

Anorexia can affect the heart, bones, hormones, digestion, concentration, strength, growth, and other parts of the body. It can become life-threatening without treatment.

Parents should not wait until a teenager appears extremely thin before seeking help.

Atypical Anorexia in Adolescents

A young person with atypical anorexia experiences many of the same thoughts and behaviors as someone with anorexia but may not be considered underweight.

The teenager may:

• Severely restrict food
• Experience rapid weight loss
• Fear weight gain
• Exercise compulsively
• Avoid meals
• Develop rigid food rules
• Experience serious body-image distress

Atypical anorexia can still cause dangerous medical complications. The seriousness of an eating disorder should not be determined by appearance alone.

Bulimia Nervosa in Adolescents

Bulimia nervosa involves repeated episodes of binge eating followed by behaviors intended to prevent weight gain.

During a binge, the young person may eat a large amount of food while feeling unable to stop or control the behavior.

Afterward, the teenager may attempt to compensate by:

• Vomiting
• Misusing laxatives
• Fasting
• Exercising excessively
• Using other unhealthy methods to influence weight

A teen with bulimia may remain at an average or higher body weight. This can make the condition difficult for families to notice.

Possible signs of bulimia include:

• Disappearing into the bathroom after meals
• Running water to hide the sound of vomiting
• Swelling around the face or jaw
• Frequent sore throats
• Dental problems
• Stomach pain
• Dehydration
• Hidden food wrappers
• Shame or guilt after eating
• Large changes in eating habits

Bulimia can cause serious problems with hydration, electrolytes, digestion, teeth, and heart function.

Teen Binge-Eating Disorder

Binge-eating disorder involves repeated episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food while feeling a loss of control.

During an episode, a young person may:

• Eat very quickly
• Eat when they are not hungry
• Continue eating after becoming full
• Eat until they feel physically uncomfortable
• Hide food
• Eat alone because of embarrassment
• Feel guilt, sadness, or shame afterward

Unlike bulimia, binge-eating disorder does not regularly involve vomiting, fasting, laxative misuse, or excessive exercise after a binge.

Binge-eating disorder is different from occasionally overeating during a holiday or celebration. The episodes happen repeatedly and cause significant emotional distress.

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder is commonly known as ARFID.

ARFID involves severely limited eating that is not mainly caused by fear of gaining weight or dissatisfaction with body shape.

A young person may avoid food because of:

• Fear of choking
• Fear of vomiting
• Low interest in eating
• Sensitivity to food textures
• Sensitivity to smells or tastes
• A past frightening experience involving food
• Anxiety about the physical effects of eating

ARFID can lead to nutritional deficiencies, weight loss, delayed growth, dependence on supplements, and difficulty eating in social settings.

It is different from ordinary picky eating because the food avoidance causes serious health, nutritional, or daily-life problems.

Other Disordered-Eating Behaviors

Not every young person’s symptoms fit one familiar diagnosis.

Other concerning behaviors may include:

• Repeated fasting
• Nighttime eating
• Chewing and spitting out food
• Using supplements in unsafe ways
• Extreme focus on “healthy” eating
• Avoiding food because of body-image concerns
• Compulsive exercise
• Repeated cycles of dieting and overeating
• Eating nonfood substances
• Obsessive focus on muscle size

These behaviors can still affect physical and emotional health. Families should not wait until symptoms fit a specific label before seeking an assessment.

Eating Disorders Are More Than Body-Image Concerns

Body image can play a major role in eating disorders, but not every condition is caused by a desire to lose weight.

Some young people use eating behaviors to create a sense of control. Others use food restriction, binge eating, or purging to manage emotional pain.

Eating concerns may also be related to:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Trauma
• Grief
• Obsessive thoughts
• Perfectionism
• Sensory sensitivities
• Fear of physical symptoms
• Family stress
• Bullying
• Social pressure
• Low self-esteem

Understanding what is driving the behavior can help the treatment team create a more appropriate plan.

Risk Factors and Causes of Teen Eating Disorders

There is no single cause of an eating disorder. These conditions often develop through a combination of biological, emotional, family, social, and environmental factors.

Underlying Mental Health Conditions

Anxiety, depression, trauma, obsessive thoughts, and other mental health concerns may occur alongside an eating disorder.

A young person may use food restriction, binge eating, or other behaviors as an unhealthy way to manage emotional distress.

Genetics and Family History

Eating disorders can occur more often in some families. A family history of eating disorders, anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions may increase a young person’s risk.

Having a family history does not mean that a child will develop an eating disorder.

Perfectionism and Rigid Thinking

Some teens place extreme pressure on themselves to perform well, look a certain way, or avoid mistakes.

Rigid thinking can make it difficult for a young person to adjust when routines, food choices, body shape, or expectations change.

Childhood or Adolescent Trauma

Traumatic experiences may affect a young person’s relationship with food, their body, other people, and their sense of control.

The eating behavior may become a way to avoid emotions, feel protected, or regain control after an overwhelming experience.

Bullying and Peer Pressure

Appearance-related teasing and bullying can affect a young person’s self-esteem and body image.

Pressure from friends, sports teams, social groups, or romantic partners may also encourage unhealthy dieting or exercise.

Social Media and Appearance Standards

Young people regularly see edited images, weight-loss messages, fitness content, and unrealistic appearance standards online.

Repeated comparison with these images may contribute to body dissatisfaction, strict dieting, compulsive exercise, or disordered eating.

Social media is rarely the only cause of an eating disorder, but it can add pressure for a vulnerable teenager.

Sports and Performance Pressure

Young people involved in sports, dance, modeling, wrestling, gymnastics, running, or other performance activities may feel pressure to maintain a certain weight or appearance.

Coaches, teammates, judges, or family members should avoid making harmful comments about a young person’s body or food choices.

Do Boys Experience Eating Disorders?

Yes. Eating disorders can affect young people of every gender.

Boys and young men may experience:

• Anorexia
• Bulimia
• Binge-eating disorder
• ARFID
• Compulsive exercise
• Severe food restriction
• Body-image concerns
• Unsafe supplement use
• An intense focus on muscle size

Eating disorders in boys may be missed because many people still believe these conditions affect only girls.

Some boys become focused on being lean, strong, or muscular rather than thin. They may exercise for long periods, follow extremely strict diets, or use unsafe substances to change their appearance.

A boy does not have to express a desire to lose weight to have a serious eating or body-image concern.

Muscle Dysmorphia and Compulsive Exercise

Muscle dysmorphia involves an intense belief that the body is not muscular, large, or lean enough.

A young person may appear strong or athletic while believing they are too small.

Possible signs include:

• Exercising for several hours
• Refusing to miss a workout
• Continuing to exercise when injured
• Following extreme high-protein or restrictive diets
• Checking muscles repeatedly
• Avoiding activities that interrupt workouts
• Using unsafe supplements
• Feeling ashamed of body size
• Withdrawing from relationships
• Allowing exercise to interfere with school and sleep

Healthy physical activity supports well-being. Exercise becomes concerning when it is driven by fear, guilt, or compulsion and interferes with daily life.

The Importance of Early Intervention

Eating disorders can become more difficult and medically dangerous over time. Early evaluation may reduce the risk of long-term physical and emotional complications.

Families should not ignore eating-disorder symptoms as a passing phase.

Seek professional help when a young person:

• Regularly skips meals
• Experiences rapid weight changes
• Purges after eating
• Binge eats
• Exercises compulsively
• Has strict and growing food rules
• Becomes highly distressed around meals
• Withdraws from friends
• Experiences dizziness or fainting
• Stops growing as expected
• Develops serious body-image concerns
• Uses laxatives, vomiting, or fasting
• Shows signs of depression or self-harm

A young person can be medically unstable without looking extremely ill. Parents should not rely on appearance alone.

How Parents Can Talk to a Teen About Eating Concerns

Talking about eating behavior can feel uncomfortable. Parents may fear that the conversation will cause an argument or make the behavior worse.

Choose a private time when no one is rushing or already upset about a meal.

Focus on specific changes you have noticed.

You might say:

“I have noticed that you are skipping meals, exercising when you are exhausted, and avoiding dinner with us. I am concerned about your health, and I want us to speak with someone who understands eating concerns.”

During the conversation:

• Remain calm
• Use “I” statements
• Focus on health and behavior
• Avoid comments about weight
• Do not argue about whether the child looks sick
• Avoid blame and shame
• Listen to your teen’s concerns
• Explain that an assessment is not a punishment
• Do not promise to keep dangerous behavior secret
• Remain firm about seeking appropriate help

Your teenager may deny the behavior or become angry. Resistance does not mean that the concern is unimportant.

What Parents Should Avoid Saying

Comments about food, weight, or appearance can increase shame and make a young person feel misunderstood.

Try to avoid statements such as:

• “You do not look like you have an eating disorder.”
• “Just eat normally.”
• “You look healthier now.”
• “Why are you doing this to us?”
• “You are being dramatic.”
• “I wish I had your self-control.”
• “You would feel better if you lost weight.”
• “You look too thin.”
• “Other people have real problems.”
• “You should be grateful for the food you have.”

Instead, focus on the young person’s physical health, energy, concentration, mood, relationships, and ability to participate in life.

Medical Evaluation for Teen Eating Disorders

Eating disorders affect both physical and mental health. A medical evaluation is important even when the teenager says they feel fine.

An evaluation may include:

• Eating and medical history
• Growth history
• Recent body changes
• Heart rate
• Blood pressure
• Hydration
• Laboratory testing
• Current medications
• Menstrual history when relevant
• Exercise patterns
• Restriction, bingeing, or purging behaviors
• Mental health symptoms
• Self-harm or suicide risk

The results help the treatment team determine whether the young person is medically stable and which level of care is needed.

A pediatrician or primary care provider may refer the family to an eating-disorder specialist, adolescent medicine provider, psychiatrist, therapist, registered dietitian, hospital, or specialized treatment program.

Anorexia and Bulimia Treatment for Teens

Treatment for anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders should be based on the young person’s diagnosis, medical health, nutritional needs, family situation, and emotional concerns.

A treatment plan may include the following services.

Medical Care and Monitoring

Medical professionals monitor the young person’s physical health and address complications caused by restriction, bingeing, purging, dehydration, or nutritional problems.

Hospital care may be needed when the teenager is medically unstable.

Nutritional Support

A registered dietitian with eating-disorder experience may help the young person establish a safer eating pattern and meet their nutritional needs.

Nutritional support is more than telling someone to “just eat.” Fear, obsessive thinking, physical discomfort, and eating-disorder beliefs can make eating extremely difficult.

Individual Therapy

Individual therapy provides a private setting where the young person can explore the emotions, thoughts, experiences, and behaviors connected to the disorder.

Therapy may address:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Trauma
• Perfectionism
• Low self-esteem
• Body-image concerns
• Emotional regulation
• Relationship problems
• Social pressure
• Unhealthy coping behaviors

Group Therapy

Group therapy can help young people develop skills and reduce feelings of isolation.

Groups may focus on:

• Emotional regulation
• Body-image concerns
• Stress reduction
• Healthy communication
• Coping skills
• Relationship development
• Self-compassion
• Relapse prevention

Groups should be led by professionals who understand eating disorders and know how to prevent unhealthy comparisons among participants.

Family Therapy

Eating disorders affect the entire household. Family therapy can help parents and children communicate more effectively and respond to symptoms in healthier ways.

Family treatment may help caregivers:

• Understand the disorder
• Support regular eating
• Reduce conflict during meals
• Respond to treatment resistance
• Monitor safety
• Avoid blame and shame
• Create consistent routines
• Prepare for setbacks
• Coordinate with treatment providers

Parents do not cause eating disorders. However, family involvement can be an important part of a teenager’s recovery.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders

Cognitive behavioral therapy helps young people understand the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

A teenager may have thoughts such as:

• “Eating this food will make me lose control.”
• “My body must look perfect.”
• “I cannot handle gaining weight.”
• “I only deserve to eat if I exercise.”
• “My value depends on my appearance.”

A therapist can help the young person examine these beliefs, recognize unhealthy patterns, and practice more balanced responses.

Cognitive behavioral strategies may also help teenagers manage triggers, reduce harmful behaviors, and develop a relapse-prevention plan.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills

Dialectical behavior therapy skills may help teenagers manage intense emotions without using harmful eating behaviors.

Skills may focus on:

• Mindfulness
• Emotional regulation
• Distress tolerance
• Communication
• Relationship boundaries
• Problem-solving
• Reducing impulsive behavior

These strategies can be helpful when binge eating, purging, restriction, or compulsive exercise is being used to manage emotional distress.

The specific therapy used should be based on the young person’s diagnosis and treatment needs.

Psychiatric Care and Medication Management

Eating disorders often occur with anxiety, depression, trauma, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, or another mental health condition.

A psychiatric evaluation may help identify these concerns and determine whether medication should be considered.

Medication may help treat certain symptoms of bulimia, binge-eating disorder, anxiety, or depression. However, medication alone does not provide nutritional rehabilitation or fully address eating-disorder behavior.

New Beginnings offers medication management through its partial hospitalization services. The treatment team and prescribing professional should determine whether medication is appropriate for each client.

Parents should ask about:

• The purpose of the medication
• Expected benefits
• Possible side effects
• Medical monitoring
• How progress will be measured
• How medication fits into the larger treatment plan

Parents should never begin, stop, or change a psychiatric medication without guidance from the prescribing professional.

Residential Treatment for Teen Eating Disorders

Specialized residential eating-disorder treatment provides 24-hour care in a structured setting.

Depending on the program, services may include:

• Medical monitoring
• Psychiatric care
• Registered-dietitian support
• Structured meals
• Supervised meals and snacks
• Individual therapy
• Group therapy
• Family therapy
• Nutrition education
• Support after meals
• Educational services
• Discharge planning
• Relapse-prevention planning

Residential treatment may be appropriate when outpatient care has not provided enough support or when the eating disorder seriously affects the young person’s ability to function.

New Beginnings operates a 16-bed, coeducational residential program in Draper, Utah, for qualifying youth ages 11 through 17. The program provides a home-like environment, therapeutic services, educational support, structured activities, and 24-hour supervision.

However, New Beginnings’ residential program is not designed for youth whose primary diagnosis is an eating disorder. A teenager requiring medical stabilization, supervised meals, nutritional rehabilitation, or a specialized eating-disorder program should be referred to a provider equipped to offer those services.

Families may contact admissions to discuss whether New Beginnings is appropriate for co-occurring emotional or behavioral concerns after the young person’s eating-disorder and medical needs have been evaluated.

Partial Hospitalization for Eating-Related Concerns

A partial hospitalization program, also called PHP or day treatment, provides intensive treatment while allowing the young person to live at home.

A specialized eating-disorder PHP may include:

• Medical monitoring
• Supervised meals
• Nutritional counseling
• Individual therapy
• Group therapy
• Family treatment
• Psychiatric care
• School support

New Beginnings’ Journey Program is a general behavioral health PHP for qualifying youth ages 9 through 17 with serious emotional or behavioral concerns.

Services include:

• Individual psychotherapy
• Group therapy
• Family therapy
• Medication management
• Individual case management
• Accredited online education
• Educational enrichment
• Physical and social activities
• Cultural programming
• Nutritional snacks

The Journey Program is not publicly described as a specialized eating-disorder program. Admissions must determine whether the young person’s mental health and eating-related needs can be safely addressed or whether a specialized provider is required.

Intensive Outpatient Treatment

An intensive outpatient program, or IOP, provides more structure than weekly therapy without requiring the young person to live at the facility.

New Beginnings provides individual, group, and family therapy through its IOP.

Services may address related concerns such as:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Trauma
• Compulsive behavior
• Family conflict
• Parent-child concerns
• High-risk behavior
• Relationship difficulties
• Stress management

A young person with an eating disorder may also need separate medical monitoring and nutritional care. General outpatient mental health therapy should not replace specialized eating-disorder treatment when that level of care is required.

Families should discuss the teenager’s diagnosis, medical status, eating behaviors, and recommendations from current providers with admissions.

Educational Support During Treatment

Eating disorders can make it difficult for students to concentrate, remember information, complete assignments, attend school, or participate in normal classroom activities.

Students may fall behind because of:

• Medical appointments
• Treatment schedules
• Fatigue
• Anxiety
• Difficulty concentrating
• Hospital stays
• Long eating rituals
• Social withdrawal
• Fear of eating at school

New Beginnings helps qualifying clients continue their education while participating in treatment.

New Beginnings is not a school. However, clients may participate in accredited online learning through the Canyons School District while staff members provide structure and learning support.

Educational support may help young people:

• Maintain academic progress
• Complete assignments in a structured setting
• Reduce anxiety about falling behind
• Rebuild study routines
• Practice asking for help
• Prepare to return to their regular school
• Balance treatment with academic needs

Eating Disorder Help for Families

An eating disorder affects the entire family. Parents may feel frightened, guilty, angry, confused, or exhausted.

Family support may focus on:

• Understanding eating disorders
• Recognizing warning signs
• Learning about medical risks
• Reducing shame and blame
• Supporting the treatment plan
• Responding to resistance
• Creating consistent routines
• Avoiding appearance-based comments
• Communicating with treatment providers
• Supporting school participation
• Preparing for difficult days
• Developing a relapse-response plan

Parents did not cause the eating disorder. However, they can play an important role in noticing symptoms, arranging appropriate treatment, supporting recovery, and helping the teenager remain connected to care.

Parents may also benefit from their own therapy or support group. Taking care of yourself can help you remain calm, patient, and emotionally available.

Potential Benefits of Teen Eating Disorder Treatment

No program can promise a specific result. Recovery depends on the young person’s diagnosis, physical health, treatment needs, participation, family support, and access to appropriate care.

Possible short-term goals include:

• Improving medical safety
• Establishing a more regular eating pattern
• Reducing food restriction
• Reducing bingeing or purging
• Decreasing compulsive exercise
• Understanding emotional triggers
• Reducing food-related anxiety
• Improving energy and concentration
• Increasing family understanding
• Returning to safer routines

Possible long-term goals include:

• Maintaining physical and nutritional health
• Developing a healthier relationship with food
• Reducing eating-disorder thoughts and behaviors
• Improving emotional regulation
• Treating anxiety, depression, or trauma
• Rebuilding family relationships
• Returning to school and social activities
• Developing a more stable sense of self
• Recognizing early warning signs
• Following a continuing-care plan

Recovery may include progress, setbacks, and changes in the level of care. A setback does not mean treatment has failed. It may mean the care plan needs to be adjusted.

Helping a Reluctant Teen Begin Treatment

A teenager may not believe they need help. Eating disorders can affect judgment and make unhealthy behaviors feel safe, necessary, or reasonable.

Parents can help by:

• Focusing on health instead of appearance
• Describing specific behaviors they have noticed
• Remaining calm during denial or anger
• Explaining why medical evaluation is important
• Avoiding arguments about exact weight or calories
• Allowing appropriate choices during treatment
• Asking what the teenager fears about receiving help
• Avoiding threats or punishment
• Remaining consistent about safety
• Following professional recommendations

A young person does not have to agree with every concern before receiving an evaluation.

When physical or emotional health may be at risk, parents should act even when the teenager is resistant.

Why Families Contact New Beginnings

New Beginnings Behavioral Health & Wellness provides several levels of behavioral health care for children, adolescents, teens, and their families.

Available services include:

• Residential treatment
• Partial hospitalization
• Intensive outpatient treatment
• Individual therapy
• Group therapy
• Family therapy
• Medication management
• Case management
• Educational support
• Recreational and enrichment activities

Our programs combine professional treatment with structure, family involvement, educational support, and opportunities for personal growth.

Because eating disorders may require medical, nutritional, and highly specialized services, admissions must review each young person’s needs before determining whether New Beginnings is an appropriate fit.

Youth with a primary eating disorder are not eligible for the New Beginnings residential program. Families may still contact admissions to discuss co-occurring mental health concerns and receive guidance about the appropriate next step.

Begin Teen Eating Disorder Treatment in Utah

Families should not wait until a young person looks extremely ill before seeking help.

Start by contacting your child’s pediatrician, primary care provider, or an adolescent eating-disorder specialist. Explain the changes you have noticed and request a medical and mental health evaluation.

Families may also contact New Beginnings Behavioral Health & Wellness in Draper, Utah, to discuss related emotional or behavioral health concerns and determine whether one of our programs is appropriate.

Call 801-282-6953 and select Option 1 to speak with admissions.

Be prepared to share:

• Current diagnoses
• Eating-disorder symptoms
• Recent growth or body changes
• Medical concerns
• Food restriction
• Bingeing or purging behaviors
• Current medications
• Previous treatment
• Recommendations from the child’s doctor
• Whether specialized eating-disorder care has been advised

The admissions process helps determine program fit. It does not replace a medical evaluation when an eating disorder is suspected.

Immediate Medical and Safety Notice

Eating disorders can become medical or psychiatric emergencies.

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department if a young person:

• Faints or loses consciousness
• Experiences a seizure
• Has chest pain
• Has difficulty breathing
• Appears severely dehydrated
• Experiences confusion
• May have taken a dangerous amount of medication or laxatives
• Has attempted suicide
• Has a plan to harm themselves
• Is in immediate danger

Do not leave a young person alone when there is an immediate risk of suicide or self-harm.

When you are unsure whether symptoms can safely wait for a regular appointment, seek urgent medical care.

Frequently Asked Questions About Teen Eating Disorder Treatment

What is an eating disorder?

An eating disorder is a serious mental health condition involving major disturbances in eating behavior.

It may involve food restriction, binge eating, purging, compulsive exercise, body-image distress, or severe avoidance of certain foods.

What are common eating disorder signs in teens?

Possible warning signs include skipped meals, strict food rules, secretive eating, binge episodes, vomiting, laxative misuse, excessive exercise, fear of gaining weight, body checking, dizziness, fatigue, and withdrawal from family meals.

Can a teenager have an eating disorder without being underweight?

Yes. Young people of any body size can experience serious eating-disorder behaviors and medical complications.

Bulimia, binge-eating disorder, atypical anorexia, and other conditions may not cause an underweight appearance.

What is the difference between picky eating and ARFID?

Many children are selective about food. ARFID causes food restriction that leads to medical, nutritional, growth, academic, or social problems.

ARFID may be connected to sensory concerns, fear of choking, fear of vomiting, or a low interest in eating rather than a desire to lose weight.

Can boys develop eating disorders?

Yes. Eating disorders can affect young people of every gender.

Symptoms in boys may involve restriction, binge eating, purging, excessive exercise, or an intense focus on becoming leaner or more muscular.

Can anxiety or depression cause disordered eating?

Anxiety, depression, trauma, and other emotional concerns may contribute to unhealthy eating behaviors.

However, a young person with an established eating disorder usually needs treatment that directly addresses eating behavior and medical or nutritional needs.

What professionals may be involved in treatment?

Depending on the young person’s needs, the treatment team may include a medical doctor, therapist, psychiatrist, registered dietitian, nurse, case manager, and family members.

Will my teenager need a medical evaluation?

A medical evaluation is important when an eating disorder is suspected.

Eating disorders can affect heart rate, blood pressure, hydration, growth, digestion, hormones, and other areas of physical health.

Does my teen need residential eating-disorder treatment?

Residential treatment may be considered when symptoms are severe, outpatient care has not been successful, or the young person needs 24-hour structure and support.

A medical and mental health assessment is required to determine the appropriate level of care.

Does New Beginnings offer specialized eating-disorder residential treatment?

New Beginnings does not accept youth whose primary diagnosis is an eating disorder into its residential program.

Families needing medical stabilization, supervised meals, nutritional rehabilitation, or specialized eating-disorder treatment should seek a facility designed to provide those services.

Can New Beginnings address related mental health concerns?

New Beginnings provides behavioral health services for qualifying youth, including individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, medication management, PHP, IOP, residential care, and educational support.

Admissions must review the young person’s eating behaviors, medical health, diagnoses, and treatment needs to determine whether the program is appropriate.

Are parents involved in eating-disorder treatment?

Parents and caregivers often play an important role in adolescent treatment.

Family involvement may include education, meal support, communication skills, safety monitoring, coordination with providers, and relapse-prevention planning.

Can teenagers recover from eating disorders?

Yes. With appropriate medical, nutritional, psychological, and family support, young people can work toward recovery.

The treatment plan and level of care should be based on the teenager’s diagnosis, medical stability, symptoms, and individual needs.