Oakland Child & Family Eating Disorders Program
Eating Disorders
Eating Disorders are complex, life-threatening conditions that require multi-disciplinary, intensive treatment. Early identification and treatment can prevent the condition from becoming more severe and chronic. Without psychological and medical treatment, growth retardation, heart problems, increased risk for bone fractures, and fatal complications can result.
The Eating Disorder team at Kaiser Permanente Oakland Child and Family Psychiatry provide:
- Comprehensive family and individual evaluation
- Coordinated medical monitoring with your child’s pediatrician or through Adolescent Eating Disorders Medical Clinic
- Family and individual therapy
- Nutritional counseling
- Group therapy for teens
- Parent support group
- Medication evaluation by a psychiatrist, if needed
We offer medically necessary outpatient services for children and adolescents with diagnosed eating disorders. We have an “Outpatient Plus” level of care that involves additional appointments for adolescents and families who need more support. Please note that we focus on providing Family-Based Treatment, as this has been the most effective treatment in helping your child recover from an eating disorder. Consistent family and individual participation in treatment is essential, and may involve your child/teen missing school and/or other activities. Our staff will refer adolescents who are not making sufficient progress to an appropriate higher level of care, such as Kaiser Permanente’s Eating Disorder Intensive Outpatient Program.
Goals for our program include: restore your child to a healthy weight, reduce/eliminate problem eating behaviors, develop healthy eating habits and balanced lifestyle, and improve self-esteem/body image.
Parents and adolescents may be either referred by the child’s pediatrician or through self-referral. To schedule a consultation, please call 510-752-1075 (ext. 2) to speak with a therapist briefly about your concerns and to request an appointment with a clinician on the Eating Disorders treatment team.
Contact your child’s pediatrician immediately for following symptoms:
- Fainting
- Dizziness upon standing
- Extremely restricted eating
- Excessive vomiting
- Daily use of diuretics/laxatives
