Eating Disorder and Malnutrition Support at UHS

At University Health Services, there is help for students who struggle with eating disorders (ED) and disordered eating behaviors. Healthcare providers at UHS address the physical, psychological, and nutritional aspects of an ED and support students in recovery. 

Recovery from an eating disorder is best supported through engagement with a multidisciplinary team led by a mental health provider, like a therapist or counselor. Members of a multidisciplinary team may include therapists, psychiatrists, dieticians, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physicians. 

Connecting with a mental health provider

Mental health providers can help address the underlying stressful thoughts about food and body. All students are encouraged to connect to mental health support and most students benefit from a minimum of weekly counseling. To connect with a therapist, call Social Services at (510) 642-6074. Social Services can provide limited brief counseling and can also connect students to therapists in the community or to more intensive levels of treatment.

Connecting with medical and nutrition support

Medical providers evaluate and monitor your physical health and how it may be affected by disordered eating behaviors. Dietitians provide nutrition guidance and support in balancing eating behaviors. At UHS, ED Clinic visits are available where students meet with a medical provider who has additional experience working with individuals with eating disorders; these visits may also include meeting with a dietician at the time of the visit. No therapy is provided at these visits. The availability and frequency of ED clinic visits vary throughout the semester, and weekly follow-up visits cannot be guaranteed. Additional individual medical and individual nutrition visits are available through UHS.

Call (510) 643-7110 to schedule an initial visit with one of our ED Clinic providers.

About Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are behavioral conditions characterized by severe and persistent disturbance in eating behaviors and associated distressing thoughts and emotions. Although we don’t know exactly what causes eating disorders, genetics, trauma, and societal pressures all contribute to their development. People experiencing mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, trauma/PTSD, or addiction, may engage in disordered eating as a way to cope.

Body dissatisfaction is a major contributor to the development of eating...

Read more on the About Eating Disorders webpage >

UHS ED Clinic

ED Clinic is offered several days per week. Please arrive 15 minutes before the appointment time for ED vitals. Allow up to 2 hours for a new visit and up to 1 hour for return visits.

Location

Tang Center, 2222 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94720. The medical clinic is located on the 2nd Floor.

Fees

For information about fees, please visit the Billing and Cashier's Office webpage. In some cases, a student’s primary care provider at UHS will manage the treatment of the ED. Primary care providers collaborate with ED specialists to provide quality care with a multidisciplinary team.

Resources