Anorexia Treatment Specialist in San Francisco, CA

At Helyx Health, we understand that anorexia nervosa is a complex medical and psychological condition that can deeply affect every aspect of a person’s health and well-being. Anorexia is characterized by a severely distorted relationship with food and body image, leading to extreme restriction of food intake and significant weight loss. This can result in dangerous physical complications, including a slowed heart rate, low blood pressure, feeling cold, and even organ damage as the body tries to conserve energy.

Patients may experience hormonal changes—such as loss of menstrual periods in women or decreased testosterone in men—as well as weakened bones, muscle loss, and changes in skin and hair. At Helyx Health, our multidisciplinary team is trained to identify these signs early and provide the comprehensive medical evaluation needed to address both the visible and hidden impacts of anorexia.

But anorexia is not just a physical illness. It also brings severe emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal. We recognize that effective treatment requires more than just nutritional support—it requires compassionate psychological care and ongoing support for both patients and their families.

At Helyx Health, we understand that supporting someone with anorexia can be challenging and emotional. Our team is dedicated to providing compassionate, comprehensive care for patients and their families. If you have a loved one struggling with anorexia, here are some important guidelines to help you offer support most effectively:

• Be Sensitive and Understanding: Approach your loved one with empathy and patience. Avoid making any comments about their weight, body shape, or appearance. Such remarks, even if well-intentioned, can reinforce negative self-image and may worsen their condition.
• Avoid Pressure Around Eating: Do not try to force, pressure, or bribe them to eat. This can increase resistance and feelings of shame or guilt, making recovery more difficult. Similarly, avoid acting as their food monitor or trying to control their eating habits, as this can lead to power struggles and damage the trust between you.
• Acknowledge the Complexity: Anorexia is a complex mental health disorder that requires professional intervention. Avoid minimizing their experience by suggesting they “just eat more” or treating the illness as a matter of willpower.
• Seek Professional Help: Most importantly, do not ignore the problem or hope it will resolve on its own. Early intervention is key. Our experienced clinicians are here to support both patients and families with specialized treatment plans and ongoing care.

Supporting someone with anorexia means offering nonjudgmental listening, patience, and encouragement to seek help. If you or someone you care about needs support, please contact Helyx Health. Our team is here to guide you every step of the way toward recovery.

While anorexia is often associated with being underweight, current medical understanding—and our approach at Helyx Health—recognizes that the disorder can be present in people who may not appear visibly thin. In fact, rapid or significant weight loss from extreme dieting, excessive exercise, or other restrictive behaviors can lead to serious health risks regardless of starting weight or BMI. These risks include malnutrition, electrolyte imbalances, heart complications, and bone loss.

At Helyx Health, our providers are trained to look beyond stereotypes and focus on the psychological and behavioral patterns that define anorexia nervosa. We also recognize the condition known as “atypical anorexia nervosa,” where an individual meets all the criteria for anorexia except for being underweight. Unfortunately, those with atypical anorexia are often overlooked or go untreated simply because their body size does not fit the common image of the disorder.

If you or a loved one is struggling with restrictive eating, body image concerns, or an intense fear of weight gain, know that you are not alone—and that your health matters at every size. Our team is here to provide compassionate, comprehensive care that addresses both the medical and psychological aspects of eating disorders. Early intervention can be life-saving, so please reach out to us for support and guidance.

Individuals with anorexia often struggle with an intense fear of gaining weight—even when underweight—and may have a distorted body image, perceiving themselves as overweight. You might notice behaviors such as skipping meals, severely restricting food intake, obsessively counting calories, or following strict eating rituals.

Physical signs can include:

• Rapid or extreme weight loss
• Brittle or thinning hair
• Dry skin or the appearance of fine, soft hair (lanugo) on the body
• Fatigue, frequent dizziness, or fainting spells
• Feeling unusually cold

In women and girls, missing menstrual periods is also common. Emotional and psychological signs may involve irritability, social withdrawal, and an intense preoccupation with food, dieting, or body image.

It’s important to remember that symptoms can vary, and not everyone will exhibit all these signs. If you or someone you care about is showing signs of anorexia, early intervention is vital. At Helyx Health, our team offers a supportive, judgment-free environment where patients and families receive individualized medical and emotional care.

Our multidisciplinary team provides thorough assessment, nutritional counseling, and ongoing support tailored to the unique needs of each patient. We work closely with families to develop effective treatment plans and foster lasting recovery.

If you have concerns about anorexia nervosa for yourself or a loved one, please contact Helyx Health. Together, we can take the first step toward healing and hope. Contact us today for more information or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 57 Post St Suite 604, San Francisco, CA 94104. We serve patients from San Francisco CA, Emeryville CA, Sausalito CA, Oakland CA, Berkeley CA, and surrounding areas.