Anorexia
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Eating disorders
Eating disorders are mental health disorders that are connected to both mental and physical well-being. Our multidisciplinary team offers support and help with eating-related problems.
Specialist in the article
Psykologi, psykoterapeutti, psykologian dosentti
Revised 4/18/2024
Eating disorders and eating-related problems are common, and the symptoms may include binging, restrictive eating and body image issues. Early identification and access to treatment, as well as active and competent multidisciplinary treatment are key.
Psychosocial and psychotherapeutic treatments as well as nutritional therapy are central forms of treatment. If your symptoms are severe and you are underweight or suffer from physical symptoms, a physician’s assessment is important.
Eating disorders in brief
- Eating disorders are common mental health disorders that anyone can get. Eating disorders are most common in young women and girls.
- Fortunately, eating disorders and eating-related problems can be treated and recovered from. Early intervention and competent and active multidisciplinary care are key.
- In the treatment of eating disorders and eating problems, it is important to simultaneously treat mental health and physical health and correct eating behaviours.
- Our multidisciplinary eating disorder team is here to help you in the Helsinki metropolitan area.
Services and appointments
If you would like to discuss your situation with our professionals, our multidisciplinary eating disorder team is here to help you in the Helsinki metropolitan area.
We offer support and help at different stages of eating-related problems: from early identification and intervention to treatment and rehabilitation. The treatment is performed as outpatient treatment.
If necessary, our physicians can assess the need for treatment and the appropriate way to implement it.
Learn more and book an appointmentA psychiatrist can help you assess and treat your eating disorder, as well as plan your treatment.
Book an appointment with a psychiatristA psychotherapist can help you work on your eating disorder-related thoughts, feelings, behaviours and symptoms to support your recovery. Psychotherapists offer, among other things, eating disorder-focused short-term psychotherapeutic treatment and long-term rehabilitation psychotherapy.
Book an appointment with a psychotherapistA psychologist can help you with eating-related lifestyle changes as well as working on your feelings, thoughts and behaviours. Psychologists offer support discussion sessions and psychosocial treatment.
Book an appointment with a psychologistA dietitian can help you normalise your eating behaviour and support you with establishing a healthy diet that is regular, adequate, varied and flexible. A dietitian can also help you strengthen a healthy relationship with food.
Book an appointment with a dietitianYou can discuss your eating disorder-related physical symptoms and health at a general practitioner’s appointment. The general practitioner will assess your need for blood tests and other examinations.
Book an appointment with a general practitionerA paediatrician is able to assess the physical symptoms that may be related to eating disorders in children and adolescents as well as the necessary examinations.
Book an appointment with a paediatricianMost common eating disorders
The most common eating disorders include:
- binge-eating-related eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa and BED (binge-eating disorder)
- restrictive eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa
- ARFID (avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder).
Unspecified eating disorders and more broadly defined problems related to eating and body image are also common.
Causes of eating disorders
Eating disorders are complex disorders. The possible causes may include:
- Genetic or other biological predisposition
- Difficult life experiences, emotional problems and self-esteem issues
- Societal appearance pressures, an environment that glorifies slimness and performance
Prevalence of eating disorders
Anyone can develop an eating disorder or suffer from eating-related problems, regardless of gender, age or body size. Eating disorders are most common in young women and girls. One in six Finnish women develop an eating disorder by early adulthood, but many are left to deal with it alone (Silén, 2021). More broadly defined eating-related problems and body image issues are even more common.
Eating disorders and co-occurring disorders
Co-occurring disorders with an eating disorder are common. It is important to assess and treat co-occurring disorders and symptoms. Common co-occurring psychiatric and somatic disorders and symptoms of an eating disorder include:
- Depression and anxiety disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Autism spectrum disorders and characteristics
- Personality disorders, such as schizoid personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder and borderline personality disorder
- Substance abuse
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Self-destructive behaviour and suicide attempts
- Diabetes
- Hormonal and fertility disorders
- Osteoporosis
- Abdominal symptoms
Help with eating disorders and eating-related problems
Fortunately, eating disorders and eating-related problems can be treated and recovered from. Proper treatment includes competent multidisciplinary cooperation and a simultaneous focus on mental health, physical health and eating disorder symptoms.
If you would like to discuss your situation with our professionals, our multidisciplinary eating disorder team is here to help you in the Helsinki metropolitan area. We offer support and help at different stages of eating-related problems: from early identification and intervention to treatment and rehabilitation. The treatment is performed as outpatient treatment. If necessary, our physicians can assess the need for treatment and the appropriate way to implement it.
Children and adolescents
Mehiläinen’s eating disorder team’s paediatricians, paediatric psychiatrists and youth psychiatrists can plan the treatment and assess the need for treatment and the appropriate way to implement it. If your child or adolescent has severe symptoms, including being underweight, losing weight or other physical symptoms, a physician’s assessment is important. Psychosocial, family and psychotherapeutic treatments are central to the treatment of eating disorders in children and adolescents.
The eating disorder team’s psychologists, family therapists and psychotherapists offer support discussion sessions as well as short-term psychosocial treatment and long-term psychotherapy. The treatment simultaneously focuses on the reduction of symptoms, correction of eating behaviour and psychological work. In adolescents with anorexia, it is important to support the whole family and to correct the nutritional state and normalise eating behaviours as soon as possible. The eating disorder team’s dietitians provide nutritional therapy and help normalise eating behaviour.
Adolescents and adults
- The eating disorder team’s psychiatrists can plan the treatment and assess the need for treatment and the appropriate way to implement it.
- Psychosocial and psychotherapeutic treatments are central to the treatment of eating disorders.
- The eating disorder team’s psychologists and psychotherapists offer support discussion sessions as well as short-term psychosocial treatment and long-term psychotherapy. The treatment simultaneously focuses on the reduction of symptoms, correction of eating behaviour and psychological work.
- In the treatment of eating disorders, it is important to recognise the root causes of the symptoms in one’s life, find healthy ways to regulate emotions, strengthen one’s self-esteem and body image, work on one’s own beliefs and thought patterns, and treat any other co-occurring psychological symptoms.
- The eating disorder team’s dietitians provide nutritional therapy and help to normalise eating behaviour.
- The eating disorder team’s general practitioners assess the physical symptoms related to the eating disorder and the need for blood tests and other examinations.
Prices for appointments with specialists, such as gynaecologists, dermatologists, cardiologists, orthopaedists and ophthalmologists, can be found in our appointment booking service.
Take into account in the price list
The price estimate includes the Kanta fee and the outpatient fee.| Service | Price estimate |
|---|---|
| Appointment with a specialist, 10 min Price per appointment. | from 27,20 € Without Kela reimbursement from 57,20 € |
| Appointment with a specialist, 20 min Price per appointment. | from 46,20 € Without Kela reimbursement from 76,20 € |
| Appointment with a specialist, 30 min Price per appointment. | from 55,20 € Without Kela reimbursement from 85,20 € |
| Appointment with a specialist, 45 min Price per appointment. | from 66,20 € Without Kela reimbursement from 96,20 € |
| Appointment with a psychiatrist, 30 min Price per appointment. | from 69,00 € Without Kela reimbursement from 104,00 € |
| Appointment with a psychiatrist, 45 min Price per appointment. | from 95,00 € Without Kela reimbursement from 132,00 € |
| Appointment with a psychiatrist, 60 min Price per appointment. | from 108,00 € Without Kela reimbursement from 148,00 € |
Frequently asked questions about eating disorders
Eating disorders are mental health disorders that are connected to both mental and physical well-being. Eating disorders and eating-related problems are common, and the symptoms may include binging, restrictive eating and body image issues.
Many biological, psychological and cultural factors can predispose people to eating disorders. Genetic and other biological predispositions, difficult life experiences, emotional difficulties, self-esteem issues and appearance-related pressures can all contribute to the development of eating disorders and eating-related problems.
According to a Finnish dissertation, one in six Finnish women develop an eating disorder by early adulthood, but many are left to deal with it alone (Silén, 2021). More broadly defined eating-related problems and body image issues are even more common.
The most common eating disorders are binging-related eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa and BED (binge-eating disorder), as well as restrictive eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and ARFID (avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder). Unspecified eating disorders and other problems related to eating and body image are also common.
Eating disorders are often associated with co-occurring mental and physical disorders, such as depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorders and characteristics, personality disorders, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, substance abuse problems, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal behaviour and attempts, diabetes, osteoporosis and reproductive disorders.
Competent multidisciplinary cooperation is required in the treatment of eating disorders. Psychosocial and psychotherapeutic treatments are central to the treatment of eating disorders. The treatment simultaneously focuses on the reduction of symptoms, correction of eating behaviour and psychological work. Other co-occurring mental and physical symptoms are also assessed and, if necessary, treated.
