Which therapies are highlighted as effective strategies for eating disorders?

Which therapies are highlighted as effective strategies for eating disorders?

• A. Psychoanalytic therapy and pharmacotherapy
• B. Family therapy and group therapy
• C. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychoeducation
• D. Behavioral therapy and cognitive therapy

Answer: (D)

Eating disorders respond best to strategies that change both the way someone thinks about food and how they actually eat. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is central because it helps identify and challenge distorted beliefs about body size, weight, and dieting, while teaching practical skills such as structured meal planning, regular eating, and ways to cope with cravings and triggers. Behavioral therapy complements this by directly shaping eating behaviors through concrete tasks and reinforcement to establish healthy patterns and reduce problematic responses to food cues. Together, these approaches address both thought patterns and behavior, and research consistently shows they are among the most effective psychological treatments for eating disorders. Other options may be helpful in certain contexts, but they don’t have the same level of evidence as a combined behavioral and cognitive approach.

Eating disorders respond best to strategies that change both the way someone thinks about food and how they actually eat. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is central because it helps identify and challenge distorted beliefs about body size, weight, and dieting, while teaching practical skills such as structured meal planning, regular eating, and ways to cope with cravings and triggers. Behavioral therapy complements this by directly shaping eating behaviors through concrete tasks and reinforcement to establish healthy patterns and reduce problematic responses to food cues. Together, these approaches address both thought patterns and behavior, and research consistently shows they are among the most effective psychological treatments for eating disorders. Other options may be helpful in certain contexts, but they don’t have the same level of evidence as a combined behavioral and cognitive approach.