Eating disorder resources for current and previous clients

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 1 percent of people will be diagnosed with bulimia nervosa (BN) at some point in their lives. BN is characterized by persistent episodes of binge eating that is followed by compensatory behavior, which can include self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, over-exercise and/or restricting that is used to “make up” for the food that was consumed during the binge episode.

Beyond the associated psychiatric symptoms, which often include substance use, anxiety, depression and/or self-injurious behavior, there are many potential medical risks that can make bulimia a particularly life-threatening condition.

{{blog-button="/cta-buttons"}}

Bulimia Health Risk 1: Electrolyte imbalances and dehydration

Electrolyte imbalances are a constant risk for those living with bulimia due to common electrolyte loss resulting from compensatory behaviors. Electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride are essential for the body to function at its optimum capacity. If those electrolytes have been purged from the body without being adequately replaced, the levels will fall, resulting in a disruption in the body’s delicate balance.

Electrolyte imbalances are closely linked to dehydration, a condition in which the body lacks the water volume to properly perform its various functions. Those with bulimia are at heightened risk for dehydration because water volume can drop so quickly during a purging episode. If too much water is purged from the body, it can result in serious medical complications including hypovolemic (low blood volume) shock, seizures and kidney or heart failure.

Bulimia Health Risk 2: Digestive issues, peptic ulcers and pancreatitis

Laxative abuse is common among those with bulimia and can disrupt the body’s natural gastrointestinal functioning causing the intestines to lose muscle tone and leading to dependence on laxatives to produce a bowel movement (BM). When laxative use stops, constipation can result, which often causes bloating and an uncomfortable feeling of fullness.

Peptic ulcers are sores in the lining of the stomach (gastric ulcers) or the first part of the small intestine (duodenal ulcers). These small breaks can be caused by excessive acid in the stomach or duodenum dissolving the lining in those areas resulting in painful, bleeding sores. Pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, can also result and can be life-threatening.

Bulimia Health Risk 3: Tooth decay

For those who engage in frequent self-induced vomiting behavior, staining and erosion can occur due to excess acid build-up in the mouth area. Depending on how long and how frequent this behavior is performed, teeth can erode so severely that chewing and swallowing can become difficult and necessitate the need for dental repair work or even full replacement or dentures.

Bulimia Health Risk 4: Stomach rupture

Binge eating episodes carry with them a risk of gastric rupture or perforation, a tearing of the stomach’s lining. During these episodes, the stomach expands to accommodate the larger than normal volume of food. This stretching can rupture the blood vessels that supply that area, which cut off the blood supply. A lack of blood in the area weakens the tissue making each successive binge more dangerous and more likely to tear the stomach’s wall.

Bulimia Health Risk 5: Esophageal inflammation and swollen salivary glands

The caustic stomach acid present in vomit can irritate the esophagus (the muscular tube leading from the throat to the stomach), causing irritation and sometimes tearing. This irritation can result in erosion and damage to the pharynx (throat) and vocal cords causing a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and a hoarse voice. The salivary glands (located just in front of the ears at the base of the jaw) can also become swollen causing the cheeks to puff out.

Excessive vomiting can also lead to an esophagus rupture (or tear) causing the contents to spill into the chest and lead to serious lung complications. Esophageal ruptures can cause severe chest pain, vomit containing blood (hematemesis), nausea, rapid breathing, and fever. This is a medical emergency and must be treated immediately with surgery to repair the tear.

Bulimia Health Risk 6: Acid reflux

Another potential complication of frequent, excessive vomiting is acid reflux, which is the result of the gradual weakening of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). When functioning properly, the LES opens to allow food/fluids to pass from the esophagus to the stomach and closes to prevent stomach contents from flowing backward. Frequent vomiting can cause the LES to lose muscle tone, which prevents it from closing properly. Failure to close properly allows for stomach contents to splash back into the esophagus, causing heartburn, chest pain, and difficulty swallowing.

The medical complications arising from bulimia can become life-threatening and extend beyond these risks. Swelling in the hands and feet (edema), irregular heartbeat, organ failure, loss of menstruation, infertility, broken blood vessels in the eyes (petechiae) due to vomiting episodes, and other complications associated with pregnancy can also result from BN.

‍

We know finding care can be tough. Monte Nido is here for you. If you are concerned that you, or a loved one, may have an eating disorder, please reach out to us now.

When Summer Triggers Body Dysmorphia  

For many people in eating disorder recovery, summer can be an especially triggering season. Warmer weather often brings increased focus on body exposure, including swimsuits, shorts, and social media filled with “bikini body” messaging. For individuals experiencing body dysmorphia, this heightened visibility can intensify feelings of anxiety, self-criticism, and the compulsive urge to “fix” perceived flaws.  

Body dysmorphia is a mental health condition characterized by obsessive thoughts about perceived physical defects that others may not notice or that are exaggerated in the person’s mind.  

During summer, the cultural pressure to conform to narrow beauty ideals, often rooted in diet culture, can amplify body image struggles and disrupt recovery. The seasonal shift may also involve changes in routine, increased social comparison, or events that center around food and appearance.  

If you're struggling with body dysmorphia this summer, know that you're not alone, and that your worth is not defined by how your body looks in the heat. Choosing recovery means choosing peace, nourishment, and self-respect, no matter the season.  

{{blog-button="/cta-buttons"}}

Signs of Summer Body Dysmorphia  

Summer body dysmorphia can show up in subtle or distressing ways, especially as body-related pressures increase. Some common signs include:  

• Obsessively checking or avoiding mirrors  

• Excessive concern over how certain body parts look in summer clothing  

• Comparing your body to others at the beach or on social media  

• Canceling plans due to anxiety about your appearance  

• Feeling extreme distress when shopping for or wearing swimwear  

• Engaging in restrictive eating or compulsive exercise “to get summer-ready”  

• Believing your body is unacceptable or shameful in warmer-weather settings  

Recognizing these patterns is a crucial step toward reclaiming summer on your own terms.  

What Is Diet Culture—And Why Is It Harmful?  

Diet culture is the widespread belief that thinness equals health, beauty, and worth. It promotes the idea that certain body types—often white, thin, toned, and able-bodied—are more desirable than others. In the summer, this narrative is especially loud, showing up in phrases like “bikini body” or “summer body,” which imply that only certain bodies are worthy of being seen, celebrated, or comfortable in warm-weather clothing.  

Diet culture doesn’t just affect self-esteem. It can be deeply harmful, especially for those in recovery from an eating disorder. It normalizes restriction, overexercise, body dissatisfaction, and food guilt. It disguises harmful behaviors as “wellness” or “clean eating,” and it encourages people to measure their value by their appearance rather than their humanity.  

What’s more, diet culture often ignores the realities of genetics, trauma, chronic illness, and systemic oppression, placing blame on individuals for not fitting an arbitrary ideal. For those struggling with body image or disordered eating, summer can feel like a constant test of willpower, confidence, and worth.  

Understanding what diet culture is helps us challenge it—and choose recovery, compassion, and true health over societal pressure.  

Why "Fat Camps" Don’t Work  

While often marketed as a quick fix for weight loss, “fat camps” (also called weight loss camps or fitness retreats for kids and teens) can be deeply harmful, particularly for those at risk of or recovering from disordered eating. These programs typically focus on rapid weight loss through strict diets, high-intensity exercise, and public weigh-ins, all under the guise of promoting health. But what they actually reinforce is diet culture, body shame, and the idea that smaller bodies are inherently better.  

Many of these camps ignore the psychological and emotional aspects of body image and food relationships. Instead of fostering true well-being, they can trigger or exacerbate eating disorders, especially in young people. Studies have shown that early exposure to restrictive eating and weight-focused interventions increases the risk of disordered eating behaviors, including bingeing, purging, or long-term restriction.  

The structure of these eating disorder-adjacent summer camps often mirrors the exact cycles of control, shame, and fear that treatment programs work to dismantle. And when campers regain weight or struggle post-program, they may internalize that failure, deepening the very issues these camps claim to solve.  

True health isn’t about punishment, restriction, or conforming to societal beauty standards. It’s about nurturing the body and mind in sustainable, compassionate ways. For those struggling with body image or food, trauma-informed, weight-inclusive treatment is far more effective and far less damaging than a temporary stay at a fat camp.  

What Monte Nido’s Eating Disorder Treatment Does Differently  

Unlike restrictive “fat camps,” Monte Nido’s eating disorder treatment programs are rooted in compassion and clinical expertise. We understand that summer can intensify body image struggles and disordered eating behaviors, which is why our care is tailored to support clients, especially during this vulnerable time.  

Our eating disorder treatment programs offer evidence-based, trauma-informed care. Instead of emphasizing weight or appearance, we focus on restoring physical and emotional health through personalized nutritional support, individual and group therapy, medical and psychiatric care, and mindfulness-based practices.  

Monte Nido’s approach is weight-inclusive and free of body shaming - clients are never judged based on size or appearance. We also support clients in navigating summer-specific triggers like swimwear anxiety, increased social comparison, and changes in daily structure, all within a safe, affirming environment.  

For adolescents and adults alike, our programs provide a chance to step away from the pressures of diet culture and step into a community that values healing over appearance, and sustainability over quick fixes. Whether you're seeking eating disorder treatment and support for yourself or someone you love, Monte Nido offers true recovery, not restriction.  

This Summer, Break Free from Diet Culture  

You don’t need to change your body to enjoy the season. You deserve peace, freedom, and joy, just as you are. At Monte Nido, we believe recovery means reclaiming your life from diet culture and learning to nourish both body and mind with compassion.  

If summer brings more anxiety than ease, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to navigate it by yourself. Our eating disorder treatment programs offer evidence-based, affirming care for every step of your journey.  

Reach out today to learn more or start the path toward lasting healing.

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) has been getting more coverage in the media. While more and more people are becoming aware of this serious condition, it is still misunderstood and under-diagnosed. Many doctors tell parents that their child will grow out of the picky eating ‘phase.’ Picky eating can be a piece of this diagnosis, but there can be many other layers that complicate this condition.

Here are some helpful facts about ARFID that you may not have known.

{{blog-button="/cta-buttons"}}

1. ARFID is an eating disorder that is listed in the DSM-5

ARFID is a diagnosable eating disorder that is in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5^th Edition (DSM-5). It is defined by a lack of interest in or engagement with food. It can also include an aversion to food due to possible side effects of eating such as vomiting, choking or getting sick.

2. ARFID is more than just picky eating

In actuality, ARFID manifests as intense fear and avoidance of food or food groups as opposed to someone who doesn’t like veggies. Those who live with ARFID often avoid certain food textures, smells and colors because of sensory characteristics. Other times, ARFID can stem from trauma around food. For example, if a child eats a peach and chokes on the pit, that incident may lead them to avoid any foods that could recreate that scenario of choking. Examples may be orange foods, foods that have pits or any types of fruit.

3. ARFID doesn’t just impact children

Per the above point, ARFID symptoms are often dismissed as picky eating. As such, ARFID diagnoses often “fly under the radar” and continue throughout life. Adults with ARFID may avoid social situations that involve food or meals because they are self-conscious of their limited palette. Shame or embarrassment can increase anxiety and isolation which can make it difficult to get proper support.

4. ARFID symptoms may look similar to anorexia, but with one important distinction

Children who present with ARFID symptoms may lose weight and/or fail to gain weight in a similar way to children with anorexia. Anorexia is categorized by the fear of weight gain and the presence of a body image disturbance. Conversely, individuals with ARFID are typically not trying to lose weight. In fact, many people with ARFID (especially children) are very aware that they are smaller than their peers and want to gain weight.

*Of note, an individual does not need to be underweight to be diagnosed with ARFID.

5. ARFID can impact all food choices.

People with ARFID do not typically restrict food based on caloric value or how ‘healthy’ they are. Some clients avoid all fruits, others may have a hard time with creamy foods like yogurt. Some people may avoid crunchy foods or strong-smelling foods.

Learn How to Seek Help for ARFID

If you or someone you love is showing signs of ARFID, we are here for you.

Our empathetic and experienced team of care professionals can help you. We use evidence-based approaches that can increase comfort around fear foods. We also help our clients to build a more robust menu of palatable foods.