
The Overlap Between Anxiety, Depression, and Eating Disorders
Mental health struggles rarely happen in isolation, and eating disorders are no exception. Research shows that the majority of individuals with eating disorders also experience co-occurring conditions like anxiety and depression. These overlapping challenges can complicate the recovery journey, making it even more important to address the whole person, not just their relationship with food.
At Prosperity Eating Disorders and Wellness Center, we recognize that true healing means understanding and treating every layer of an individual’s mental health. This Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re shedding light on the critical connection between anxiety, depression, and eating disorders—and how integrated, compassionate care can pave the way to lasting recovery.
The Strong Link Between Eating Disorders, Anxiety, and Depression
Studies consistently reveal a significant overlap between eating disorders and other mental health conditions.
According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), over 70% of individuals with eating disorders have at least one other mental health condition, most commonly anxiety or mood disorders. According to research conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders commonly co-occur with eating disorders, affecting:
- 47.9% of adults with anorexia nervosa
- 80.6% of adults with bulimia nervosa
- 65.1% of adults with binge-eating disorder
This connection is not just statistical—it is deeply personal for those who live it. Anxiety and depression can both fuel disordered eating behaviors and be intensified by the effects of an eating disorder, creating a difficult cycle that can feel hard to break.
Common ways anxiety and depression intersect with eating disorders include:
- Using restrictive eating, bingeing, or purging as a way to manage anxiety or a low mood temporarily.
- Feeling intense guilt, shame, or fear around eating or body image
- Experiencing hopelessness, worthlessness, or isolation, deepening both depressive symptoms and disordered eating behaviors
- Engaging in perfectionistic thinking, rigid routines, or avoidance patterns that maintain both disorders
Without addressing the underlying mental health symptoms, treating only the surface-level eating behaviors may not lead to full, lasting recovery.
Why Integrated Mental Health Care Matters
At Prosperity, we believe that effective eating disorder treatment must go beyond food and body concerns. It must also support emotional regulation, address trauma histories, build self-worth, and help clients develop healthy coping mechanisms.
An integrated approach means:
- Therapists and dietitians work collaboratively as part of each client’s treatment team
- Anxiety, depression, and other co-occurring concerns are assessed and treated alongside eating disorder symptoms
- Clients receive evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and exposure-based interventions
- The emotional roots of the eating disorder—such as perfectionism, fear of judgment, trauma, or loneliness—are explored and processed in a safe, supportive environment
This holistic care helps clients not only reduce harmful behaviors but also heal emotionally, reconnect with their values, and build resilience for life’s challenges.
How Anxiety and Depression Can Affect Eating Disorder Recovery
When left untreated, anxiety and depression can make recovery from an eating disorder more difficult in several ways:
- Increased Relapse Risk: Depression can sap motivation and hope, making it difficult to stay engaged in recovery.
- Amplified Fear and Avoidance: Anxiety may heighten food-related fears and reinforce avoidance behaviors.
- Isolation: Both anxiety and depression often lead to social withdrawal, weakening vital support systems and leaving individuals more vulnerable to disordered thoughts.
However, when anxiety and depression are actively addressed within the recovery process, clients often experience:
- Greater emotional stability
- Stronger coping skills
- More positive and compassionate self-talk
- Increased hope and motivation to continue progressing in recovery
At Prosperity, our goal is to help each client build a lasting recovery that supports not just freedom from eating disorder behaviors, but greater emotional and psychological well-being overall.
How Prosperity Eating Disorders and Wellness Center Supports Integrated Recovery
At Prosperity Eating Disorders and Wellness Center, we are committed to meeting each client where they are—with care that treats the whole person, not just the eating disorder.
Our programming is rooted in:
- Weekly individual therapy sessions tailored to each client’s unique mental health needs
- Weekly nutrition counseling grounded in a non-diet, Health At Every Size® (HAES®)-aligned approach
- Group therapy sessions that focus on intuitive eating, coping skills, body image, anxiety management, and self-compassion
- Trauma-informed care that prioritizes emotional safety and healing
- A supportive, affirming community that fosters belonging and hope
We accept clients with all eating disorder diagnoses, including a separate track specifically for individuals struggling with Binge Eating Disorder.
Whether you’re participating in our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) or Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) in Reston, Norfolk, or virtually, Prosperity is here to walk alongside you every step of the way.
Prioritizing Mental Health in Eating Disorder Recovery
Eating disorders are serious and complex mental health conditions that deserve professional, compassionate, and comprehensive care, not just during Mental Health Awareness Month, but every day. Recovery isn’t simply about changing eating habits; it’s about healing emotional wounds, building resilience, and reclaiming your life with compassion and courage.
At Prosperity Eating Disorders and Wellness Center, we understand that lasting recovery means treating the whole person. Our integrated programs provide the specialized support you need to heal fully—mind, body, and spirit.
You don’t have to navigate this journey alone.
Visit our website or contact us today for more information about our variety of eating disorder treatment programs that are individualized for you.