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March 1, 2023

At least 9% of Americans will experience an eating disorder in their lifetimes, according to the Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Diseases (ANAD), the leading U.S. nonprofit providing free support to people experiencing eating disorders. According to eatingdisorderhope.com, the onset of eating disorder behaviors occurs, on average, in adolescence.

Eating disorders frequently co-occur with other behavioral and mental health conditions, and are often linked to serious physical comorbidities. Most commonly associated with anorexia and bulimia, the term eating disorders encompasses a range of serious health conditions.

Treating eating disorders before they become entrenched and create other long-term health problems is critical to establishing lasting recovery and preventing relapse.

We recently added Equip, a dedicated eating disorder treatment provider, to our network. Equip’s mission is to deliver treatment that works to everyone age 6 to 24 who needs it.

The founders of Equip, who were both diagnosed with eating disorders as children, recognized the challenges parents face in helping their children obtain diagnoses; access effective, affordable treatment; and achieve lasting recovery. Equip delivers evidence-based care through a dedicated five-person team: therapist, physician, peer mentor, family mentor and dietician. The care is delivered via telehealth to make it more accessible and convenient.

At the center of Equip’s care is clinically proven, family-based treatment (FBT), the only well-established treatment for eating disorders in adolescents. Traditional eating disorder care focuses on the doctor-patient relationship without regarding the family as a necessary framework and support system. FBT, however, makes the most of consistent family support. Engaging parents as fundamental contributors to care and building their confidence in their ability to provide that care is critical to FBT’s effectiveness.

An effective alternative to residential care in many instances, receiving treatment from Equip in the home can help the patient maintain their school or work schedule.

Equip’s website offers an eating disorder assessment to help potential patients and their families learn about signs and symptoms, and determine whether they may need therapy. It’s a useful tool and an excellent place to start the journey to recovery.

Equip is in our network for all commercial group and Individual members. Members can visit equip.health to get started or sign in to their account on asuris.com or on the Asuris app to verify coverage before contacting Equip.

Questions? Please contact your account representative.