Eating Disorder Program

At University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, we understand that seeking treatment for an eating disorder can be overwhelming. Whether you need inpatient or outpatient treatment, the Eating Disorder Treatment team will work with you to determine which level of care is best for you.

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Call to Schedule: 1-319-356-2263

Our team specializes in providing care that is evidence based, individualized, and comprehensive.

UI has been providing treatment to individuals with eating disorders for over four decades and our multidisciplinary team includes dietitians, educational consultants, nurses, occupational therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, recreational therapists, pharmacists, music therapists, and social workers. We work alongside patients to help them learn effective strategies to treat the symptoms of an eating disorder and to address past and present emotional needs. At UI, we believe in caring for the whole person.

Comprehensive Care

Caring for the Mind and Body

Individuals who are diagnosed with eating disorders may also be struggling with other psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, or substance abuse. In addition, patients may experience medical conditions that often occur with these disorders. Our team will address various areas of concern before designing a treatment plan. We are one of the few places in the country with a medicine/psychiatry unit that addresses both mental and physical health concerns. We also have immediate access to a wide range of care, since we are housed in the state's only academic medical center.

Levels of Care

When seeking treatment, it can be difficult to know what level of care is needed to best treat symptoms, medical conditions, and emotional needs a patient may be experiencing. At UI, we offer multiple levels of care to address patient needs across the spectrum.

We provide diagnosis evaluations by appointment to assess the appropriate level of care. Treatment options in an outpatient setting include individual therapy and medication management. For individuals who need services closer to home, we may be able to assist you in finding care in your area.

The Aftercare/Relapse Prevention groups meet weekly for 60 minutes. The groups are facilitated by social workers to assist patients in eating disorder recovery. Patients are required to have an individual outpatient therapist that they see regularly in order to be eligible for this group.

Individuals on the Eating Disorder Track in the Partial Hospital participate in structured therapy programs during the day and spend nights and weekends at home. This program serves as a step-up from outpatient care and as a step-down from higher levels of care (inpatient, residential). Treatment is time-limited and may last up to six weeks.

A typical day in the partial program might include all or some combination of the following:

Individual psychotherapy
Group Psychotherapy
Group Education & Skills Classes
Family meetings
Medication management
Dietary guidance
Occupational therapy
Recreational therapy
Supervised meals and snacks

UI opened its Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) in the fall of 2018. While the CSU is not a specialty unit for the treatment of eating disorders, the staff is able to provide prompt and effective treatment for individuals experiencing a mental health emergency, such as an emotional crisis or a psychiatric issue needing care right away. Patients and staff share a calm and open area with comfortable reclining chairs. Patients are first seen by a nurse, and then participate in a psychiatric evaluation with the care team. You may be offered medicines or therapy to ease your symptoms.

After we’ve had some time to see how you are doing, you may be given choices for more care. Those choices might include a hospital stay, medication, establishing outpatient therapy, getting connected to community resources, or other care options.

Treatment for an eating disorder sometimes requires inpatient hospitalization. As an academic medical center, we offer the state’s only medicine/psychiatry unit to care for individuals with extensive medical needs related to symptoms and health changes including nutritional deficits, cognitive impairments, severe dehydration and more.