Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions influenced by psychological, biological, social, and environmental factors. While therapy and nutritional rehabilitation are often central to treatment, many people wonder: can antidepressants help treat an eating disorder?

The short answer is: sometimes — but not alone. Antidepressants can play a valuable role in treating certain eating disorders and co-occurring conditions, but they are not a standalone cure. Understanding when and how medication is used in eating disorder treatment can help individuals and families make informed, evidence-based decisions.

This article explores the types of eating disorders that may respond to antidepressants, the benefits and limitations of medication, and the importance of integrated, multidisciplinary care.

Grocery shopping can feel overwhelming, stressful, or even triggering when navigating eating disorder recovery. The store is full of labels, diet culture messaging, and decision fatigue, which can make it a challenging experience.

But with the right strategies, mindset shifts, and self-compassion, grocery shopping can become a more neutral and even empowering experience.

Eating disorders have long been misunderstood as only affecting perfectionistic, appearance-focused individuals. But there’s growing recognition that many people with eating disorders — especially those whose struggles don’t fit the "classic" profile — are actually neurodivergent.

Whether it’s autism, ADHD, sensory processing differences, or other forms of neurodivergence, the overlap with disordered eating is real, under-recognized, and critically important for effective care.

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder characterized by extreme food avoidance and restriction, but unlike anorexia, it is not driven by body image concerns. ARFID goes beyond normal picky eating and can lead to severe nutritional deficiencies, weight loss, and social impairments.

When we talk about malnutrition, people often think of physical signs — weight loss, weakness, or fatigue. But one of the most profound (and often invisible) effects of malnutrition happens where we least expect it:

The brain.

Whether from an eating disorder like anorexia nervosa, ARFID, or even chronic dieting, undernourishment directly affects how the brain functions, feels, and processes the world. And when the brain is underfed, it can impact everything from emotions to memory, focus, sleep, and even personality.

Let’s take a look at how malnutrition changes the brain — and why nutritional rehabilitation is critical not just for the body, but for the mind.