Eating disorders

Eating Disorders Currently, the diet industry is a 6 billion dollar a year combination of programs, products, and services. There are more obese people than ever before, so, despite all of the services, programs and products, it is still not working. It may be time to look behind the fast food establishments, and ordering food online, and then face the facts. There are obviously a lot of people that cannot control their food intake. More people have eating disorders today than ever before and yet help is not always available. There are substance abuse clinics, and gambling addiction support groups in great supply, and they are free for the most part. On the flip side, try to find a free or low-cost eating disorder clinic, and you would be searching for quite some time. Obesity is ignored, and often viewed as the lack of self-control by the overweight person. Many people consider an eating disorder that involves obesity as the addiction that is completely ignored and not recognized by most. However, if you question an obese person on their thoughts regarding food, and their eating habits, you would certainly see the pattern mimics other addicts, the ones that are recognized and helped by society.

An Obese Patient Pat was a nurse and speaks of a 750 patient that was admitted to the hospital, unable to stand. He shared his story on how he had been seeking help for 15 years with no success. He had a problem, he knew he had a problem, but he did not know how to handle it. He was too large to drive, and currently lived on disability. He simply did not know where to turn for help, and then it got so bad that he had no choice but to be hospitalized. He had an addiction to food and was an emotional eater, there was no question about that, and the question was what to do to treat him. The care team at the hospital were surprised that this patient was permitted very little from his insurer. They would offer him home care, someone to cook and clean some; however they would not pay for any type of support for his food addiction. The attending physician called and spoke to the representative for the insurance company, attempting to convince them that the patient needed to be moved to an eating disorder facility. The insurer said while they did cover eating disorders, it was only for underweight and not overweight. The hospital ended up keeping the patient in their care and monitoring his diet, he lost over 200 pounds. The physician contacted the insurer again explaining the cost to keep the man hospitalized far exceeded the cost for an eating disorder clinic. The insurer explained they only cover

underweight clients. Fortunately, the hospital staff held a fundraiser and managed to get the patient into a clinic for obese patients, and he continued to do well. The attending doctor filed a complaint regarding the lack of coverage from the insurance company, only to find out that 90% of insurers practice the same way, the obese are not covered for their addiction.

Related: Top 10 Tips to Prepare Yourself on the Day of the NCLEX Some would argue that over-eating is a choice and not an addiction; however one may also say that every addiction is a choice. Regardless, addictive behavior is a serious condition, regardless of what the addiction is, even if it happens to be over-eating and binging.

There are currently very few clinics in the United States that work with obese patients, and those that do are costly, and most often not covered by insurance. Obesity is a very serious condition, and if you have a patient that is struggling, do what you can to support them, as there is such a lack of support elsewhere. When obese patients are hospitalized and under your care, are sure they follow the physicians ordered diet, and support them with praise and motivation.

Help for the overeater is quite limited, and the patient may receive the only help they will get from their hospital visit, so offering encouragement and support will be very beneficial in learning to control their addiction.

Related: Noteworthy Registered Nurse, Patricia A. Lee, RN, will be Highlighted in the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare

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