About the UNC Eating Disorders Program

The UNC Eating Disorders program offers evidence-based approaches to the treatment of eating disorders. Our focus is primarily cognitive-behavioral—exploring the unhealthy cognitions that lead to and maintain eating disordered behaviors and assisting patients with replacing them with healthier alternatives. Families are actively involved with treatment and recovery at all levels of care. 

Our inpatient and partial hospitalization programs provide medical monitoring, medication management, individual psychotherapy, group psychotherapy, family therapy, individual and group nutritional counseling, and active programming from recreational and occupational therapy. In addition to cognitive behavioral and family therapy, the therapeutic programming includes dialectical behavioral therapy, body image work, balanced exercise training, relaxation and stress management skills, assertiveness and communication, cooking and shopping groups, and regular community outings. We also provide spirituality groups and an in-house school which is part of the Chapel-Hill Carrboro School District.

The core goals of the program include:

• Achieving a healthy and sustainable body weight
• Developing healthy (nondieting) eating habits
• Learning how to reintegrate healthy activity into one's lifestyle
• Treating any physical complications that may have arisen as a result of unhealthy eating or weight control practices
• Treating additional problems such as anxiety or depression
• Providing tools to replace unhealthy thoughts with healthier ones
• Challenging the unhealthy thoughts that maintain eating disorders
• Empowering parents and caregivers to help their loved one recover and remain well
• Providing a step-down approach that gradually introduces more autonomy
• Achieving a balanced and healthy lifestyle.