Eating disorders are among the most prevalent and dangerous mental health concerns for Iowa teenagers, and specialized treatment options in the state are limited.
The University of Iowa’s Scanlan Center for School Mental Health is now offering treatment for eating disorders to Iowa students 12 and older, as well as for parents and school staff.
The center’s Taylor Ford says an eating disorder is an unhealthy relationship with food that’s far beyond dieting — and it can be life-threatening.
“Really severe eating disorders can be difficult to overcome,” Ford says, “but I think the key point is that recovery from any type of eating disorder is absolutely possible if you have the right support and treatment.”…