If you or someone you 
care about is affected by an eating disorder, it is important to seek help!

One out of every one hundred women suffers from Anorexia Nervosa and three out of one hundred women suffer from Bulimia Nervosa. Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are serious mental health illnesses that can have significant and sometimes irreversible medical complications that can lead to death. The incidence of eating disorders is also increasing in very young children and in males.

The professionals at the Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital in Hershey, Pennsylvania offer a full range of treatment options for children, adolescents and adults with eating disorders. Conditions treated include Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Other Non-Specific Eating Disorders. Who should be referred to these programs? Warning signs and symptoms include: preoccupation with food and weight, distortion of body image, restriction of food intake, vomiting after eating and loss of menstrual periods. While criteria for Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are well established, it is increasingly evident that many patients especially adolescents may present with symptoms of an eating disorders, that do not fulfill the complete criteria.

Services range from outpatient treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, partial hospitalization/day treatment.  Inpatient hospitalization is available for children and adolescents. In all cases, patients work with a knowledgeable and experienced multi-disciplinary treatment team to maximize potential for recovery.

Goals of treatment include medical stabilization, nutritional rehabilitation, control of abnormal eating behavior, psychological treatment and prevention of relapse.

NEW PROGRAM

We would like to announce our new program which began on August 4, 2008.  This is a child and young adolescent partial hospitalization/day treatment program for eating disorders.  Patients ages 8 through 14 will be treated in a supportive, family-based environment with a multi-disciplinary team.  Our staff is experienced in the care of these challenging children and teens.  A school component is included during the school year and families have the opportunity to stay at Ronald McDonald House which is nearby.  We are currently accepting referrals for this innovative new program.  Please call 717-531-7230 for referrals and more information.

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