Eating Disorders
Comprehensive Care Center for Eating Disorders of Northeastern New York
The Comprehensive Care Center is a collaboration between the Albany Med Health System and HPA Livewell. The Center coordinates treatment services throughout 23 counties in northeastern New York to provide a seamless continuum of care. Our mission is to ensure that patients affected by the complex issues associated with eating disorders receive timely, quality care.
The System provides acute medical stabilization services, and outpatient medical, psychological and nutritional services for adults, adolescents and children. At the Albany Medical Center South Clinical Campus, we offer Maudsley Therapy to assist families with refeeding at home. Your journey will include different phases of responsibility that support a love and kind approach to a return to eating.
We collaborate with HPA Livewell on referrals for eating disorder clinicians and their virtual intensive outpatient program (IOP). IOP is a highly effective treatment model designed to help a patient recover from an eating disorder. It comes accountability and structure with the convenience of an outpatient schedule.
Eating disorders are serious conditions characterized by extreme emotions, attitudes and behaviors related to weight and food issues. They can have life-threatening consequences.
Anorexia nervosa is characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. Symptoms include:
- Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for height, body type, age and activity level
- Intense fear of weight gain or being “fat”
- Feeling “fat” or overweight despite dramatic weight loss
- Loss of menstrual periods
- Extreme concern with body weight and shape
Bulimia nervosa is characterized by a secretive cycle of binge eating (eating large amounts of food in a short period of time), then purging the food. Symptoms include:
- Repeated episodes of binging and purging (on average, at least twice a week for three months)
- Feeling out of control during a binge and eating beyond the point of comfortable fullness
- Purging after a binge, typically through self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives, diet pills and/or diuretics, excessive exercise or fasting
- Frequent dieting
- Extreme concern with body weight and shape
Binge eating disorder is characterized primarily by periods of uncontrolled, impulsive or continuous eating beyond the point of feeling comfortably full. While there is no purging, there may be sporadic fasts or repetitive diets and often feelings of shame or self-hatred after a binge. People who overeat compulsively may struggle with anxiety, depression and loneliness, which can contribute to their unhealthy episodes of binge eating.
Other eating disorders include some combination of the signs and symptoms of anorexia, bulimia and/or binge eating disorder. While these behaviors may not be clinically considered a full syndrome eating disorder, they can still be physically dangerous and emotionally draining. All eating disorders require professional help.
Additional Disorders
Other eating disorders include some combination of the signs and symptoms of anorexia, bulimia and/or binge eating disorder. While these behaviors may not be clinically considered a full syndrome eating disorder, they can still be physically dangerous and emotionally draining. All eating disorders require professional help.
More Resources
Columbia Center for Eating Disorders
Western New York Comprehensive Care Center for Eating Disorders
Contact Us
Email Tammy Ogden for more information about our program.