Eating Disorder
According to DSM5, an eating disorder is a behavioral condition characterized by severe, persistent disturbance in eating behaviors and is associated with distressing emotions and thoughts. This type of disorder can affect physical, psychological, and social function.
These are the types of eating disorders:
Anorexia Nervosa
This is a disorder in which the person severely restricts food intake to the point of severe weight loss. There is intense preoccupation and stress with body image and weight, as well as a fear of regaining weight. There is usually a distorted body image. It is divided into restrictive type and purging type.
Bulimia Nervosa
A disorder characterized by repeated episodes of binge eating that occur within a short period of time (usually within 2 hours) and during which there is an intense feeling of loss of control. This is followed by feelings of guilt that are complemented by purging tactics such as self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, diuretics and excessive exercise. There is an intense preoccupation with weight and body image, while there is often an intention to lose weight and a feeling of anxiety and fear about maintaining or regaining weight.
Binge Eating Disorder
This disorder is characterized by repeated episodes of binge eating in which the individual consumes large amounts of food within a period of approximately 2 hours. The binge eating episodes do not necessarily occur when the individual is hungry and are accompanied by feelings of loss of control and guilt after the binge eating episode.
Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder
This category includes conditions where there is a disturbed relationship with food, which is accompanied by feelings of anxiety and loss of control, but they do not occur frequently or do not meet the full criteria for classification as an eating disorder. Such disorders are the following:
- Atypical Anorexia Nervosa
- Bulimia Nervosa (Low frequency/ Limited duration)
- Binge Eating Disorder (Low frequency/duration of episodes)
- Purging Disorder (Without necessarily having binge eating episodes)
- Night Eating Syndrome
Pica
This disorder is characterized by repeated episodes of consuming inedible objects.
Rumination Disorder
A disorder characterized by repeated episodes of regurgitation of food that can be reswallowed or rejected, without being associated with any underlying gastrointestinal disease.
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
The disorder characterized by loss of interest in eating and avoidance of foods based on color, shape, or texture, leading to low energy intake, nutritional deficiencies, and weight loss. This disorder does not appear to be related to anorexia or bulimia, and there is no association with body image or weight.
Unspecified Feeding or Eating Disorder
UFED is a term used by experts when someone has characteristics of an eating disorder, but they are not enough to meet the full criteria for a disorder. Experts use this name mainly when they have incomplete data to determine the disorder or when there are no appropriate conditions to make a complete diagnosis, e.g. an emergency department.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
This is a disorder where the person focuses excessively on some defect in their appearance that is small, insignificant, or nonexistent to others. There is intense anxiety and fear in everyday life, as well as disturbances in social interaction because of this.
Orthorexia Nervosa
It is a disorder in which the individual is obsessed with healthy eating or more specifically with the healthy way of eating that they choose and at the same time manifests intense stress, shame and fear of illness when exposed to “unhealthy” choices. Weight loss may occur as a result of the individual’s dietary choices, but it does not seem to be their primary goal.
How Do We Address Eating Disorders At MARIEVA MEDCARE?
GLYFADA
At Marieva Medcare in Glyfada, the treatment of eating disorders takes place in a private, luxurious therapeutic residential setting, designed to offer an absolutely safe, calm, and supportive recovery environment. Our therapeutic philosophy is based on a holistic and individualized approach that takes into account not only eating behavior, but also the individual’s overall physical, psychological, and energetic balance. Each patient is treated with respect, discretion, and scientific precision, within a framework of multi-level care.
Within the Glyfada residence, supportive practices are integrated to enhance the regulation of the body and the nervous system. Physical exercise with a specialized trainer is tailored to the needs and limits of each individual, aiming to restore the relationship with the body and strengthen body awareness. Therapeutic massage contributes to the reduction of tension and the improvement of bodily awareness, while Pilates functions supportively in stabilization, alignment, and gentle strengthening. At the same time, acupuncture is utilized to regulate anxiety, appetite, and psychosomatic symptoms, while energy-based therapies aim at restoring internal balance and emotional release. Additionally, as part of the therapeutic process, a specialized chef collaborates with the therapeutic team to create individualized meals, tailored to the nutritional needs, medical guidelines, and therapeutic goals of each patient, supporting the restoration of a healthy and safe relationship with food. This environment functions as a space of deep reconnection with the body, promoting inner safety and gradual recovery.
ILIOUPOLI
At the Marieva Medcare offices in Ilioupoli, the treatment of eating disorders is delivered through a scientifically structured, multifactorial, and clinically focused approach that combines modern therapeutic practices with specialized medical and psycho-nutritional services. Care is centered on the comprehensive restoration of the organism, taking into account biological dysregulation, psychological processes, and the individual’s nutritional needs.
Within this framework, ozone therapy is applied, contributing to improved tissue oxygenation, immune system enhancement, and overall metabolic support. Bioresonance therapy is utilized to identify and regulate functional imbalances within the body, offering a complementary approach to physical restoration. The therapeutic team includes a specialized psychologist, focusing on the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects of eating disorders, as well as a nutritionist, who conducts detailed body composition analysis using the Tanita DC-360 device, allowing for accurate assessment of fat mass, muscle tissue, and hydration balance. In addition, IV intravenous therapies are provided, aiming to restore nutritional deficiencies, support the nervous system, and improve overall physical resilience.
A key component of the therapeutic approach is repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a modern, non-invasive neurostimulation method targeting specific brain circuits associated with impulse control, mood regulation, and anxiety. rTMS is used as a supportive intervention in cases where depressive symptoms, anxiety disorders, or obsessive-compulsive patterns coexist and influence eating behavior. We provide a clinically safe and scientifically structured environment where technology, expertise, and individualized care are harmoniously combined.