How Sexual Assault Can Lead to Eating Disorders and How to Find Healing

Thrive • April 7, 2022

By Thrive Sacramento’s Clinical Director, Gillie Francis, LCSW

Victims of sexual assault are significantly more likely to develop certain mental and behavioral health conditions, including eating disorders, according to one National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) study . Another study showed that 30% of patients with eating disorders were sexually abused in childhood. While sexual assault has been associated with many kinds of eating disorders , current research supports that bulimia and binge eating disorder (BED) are the most common types that develop following sexual assault. 

Regardless of the eating disorder that may manifest as a consequence of sexual assault, experts observe that behaviors associated with the eating disorder are often self-harming in nature. These behaviors can include purging, calorie restriction, over-exercising, and binge eating. 

HOW SEXUAL ASSAULT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF EATING DISORDERS

Broken Relationship With One’s Body

Sexual assault can severely impact how an individual perceives their body, their sense of control over their body, and their idea of safety within their body. By harming a person’s relationship with their body, sexual assault can lead to an eating disorder, as those with eating disorders typically experience such body struggles.

Decreased Sense of Safety 

Individuals who have survived sexual assault may feel as if their environments are no longer safe. This perceived sense of being unsafe can cause increased feelings of distrust, isolation, and anxiety as well as difficulty making decisions. For many, focusing on decisions that seem simple such as what food they consume and how they move in the world through exercise become more manageable expressions of safety and control. 

Coping With Emotional Distress

Additionally, eating disorder behaviors may help individuals cope with feelings of increased anxiety following the trauma of sexual assault. Because there may be more triggering experiences in everyday life, they may frequently find themselves in a state of high anxiety, causing them to rely on disordered eating behaviors as a way to regulate their emotions.

Distancing Oneself

Further, eating disorder behaviors may help create space between the individual and the event by providing them with an all-encompassing outlet to focus on rather than the sexual assault.

While disordered eating behaviors and eating disorders may understandably serve as ways of coping with the trauma of sexual assault, they’re not healthy ways of processing one’s experience and emotions and will only serve to undermine the victim’s recovery.

TREATMENT AND RECOVERY FOR EATING DISORDERS AND SEXUAL ASSAULT

Because eating disorders have some of the highest mortality rates of any mental illness, it’s vital to seek treatment that involves an integrated team of trained eating disorder therapists, dietitians, occupational therapists, and psychiatrists. 

While the main focus of eating disorder treatment is healing through nutrition guidance, psychoeducation, and mental health support, individuals may also learn alternative, healthy ways to cope with their painful emotions. Some of these strategies include:

  • Mindfulness practices : Such as breathing techniques, progressive muscle relaxation, grounding practices, meditation, and yoga.
  • Self-care : Any activities that express one’s self-love, promote their overall well-being, and fill their cup. 
  • Community involvement: Volunteering and community service can help individuals feel connected, purposeful, and part of something bigger than themselves.
  • Taking a media detox: Unplugging from social media and the 24-hour news cycle can allow individuals time to decompress and recenter.
  • Journaling: Writing one’s thoughts and emotions can be a cathartic, self-reflective, and even transformative experience.

Treatment can also implement trauma-specific therapy to support healing from sexual assault. Trauma-specific therapies include:

  • Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): EMDR aims to integrate a person’s emotional experience with their cognitive experience to help them perceive a traumatic event with a greater sense of rationality.
  • Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT): TF-CBT is a form of talk therapy used to treat childhood trauma.
  • Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) : Through individual and group therapy, DBT aims to teach individuals skills to regulate their emotions, practice mindfulness, and create a life worth living.
  • Emotion-focused therapy (EFT): EFT is a form of talk therapy that promotes emotional awareness and acceptance.

As individuals heal from both eating disorders and sexual assault, leaning into support from their family, friends, and community can be beneficial. Both family therapy and community support groups can help those in recovery feel less alone and safer, more connected, and more empowered.

THRIVE HERE

Thrive aims to empower our clients through eating disorder treatment that encompasses all aspects of well-being and seeks to heal the mind, body, and spirit. Our team of specialists includes mental, physical, and behavioral health clinicians who collaborate to provide compassionate, individualized care to those struggling with eating disorders and coexisting conditions. Reach out to learn more about our eating disorder treatment programs, trauma-specific therapy, and other integrated health services.

NATIONAL RESOURCES FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT

Additionally, there are national resources available for individuals affected by sexual assault, including: 

About the Author

Gillie Francis, LCSW — Thrive Sacramento’s Clinical Director

Gillie Francis received her master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Nevada and is a fully licensed LCSW in both Nevada and California. Her experience spans a variety of settings and levels of care including inpatient, residential, and outpatient and crisis services. Gillie has experience working with adults and adolescents with severe mental illness, eating disorders, mood and anxiety disorders, suicidal ideation, personality disorders and other co-occurring disorders. Gillian is passionate about honoring each individual’s journey and utilizes approaches that emphasize empowerment with clients. Approaching her work with integrated modalities, she works with individuals to find their voice and engage in pivoting towards their values. She believes that each individual has the capacity for meaningful change in their lives. When she is not working with clients, she enjoys time outdoors with her spouse and dog, Charlie.

Download our free wellness guide.

Discover the power of small, sustainable changes with "How to Thrive: 10 Simple Habits for Healthy Living." This guide offers practical, easy-to-follow habits that promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

December 2, 2025
Like the fir tree, a symbol of endurance rooted in hope, our Family Inclusive Recovery (FIR) approach reflects the strength that grows when families face challenges together. At our new residential center “The Greenhouse”, FIR is more than a treatment model, it’s a philosophy of healing that places families at the heart of recovery for adolescents and young adults navigating eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We believe lasting healing doesn’t happen in isolation; it’s built with the support of families through perseverance, hope, and compassionate care. What Is Family Inclusive Recovery (FIR)? Family Intensive Recovery (FIR) is a specialized and immersive approach that actively engages caregivers as central agents in their child’s healing process. Rather than seeing families as contributors to a problem, we view them as essential partners in recovery. Drawing from two evidence-based frameworks, Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) and Family-Based Treatment (FBT), FIR helps families cultivate resilience, confidence, and connection throughout the journey to recovery. Grounded in SPACE and FBT Through the SPACE model, parents learn how to recognize and reduce well-intentioned but unhelpful behaviors known as accommodations that can reinforce anxiety and OCD symptoms. By shifting from rescuing to supporting and challenging, parents develop the confidence to guide their child through discomfort, helping them build distress tolerance and self-trust. Simultaneously, Family-Based Treatment (FBT) empowers families to take an active, compassionate role in their child’s nutritional and emotional recovery. Parents learn how to support weight and nutritional restoration, disrupt the eating disorder’s patterns, and reestablish boundaries that promote health and growing autonomy. Together, these approaches strengthen both the individual and family system, allowing recovery to take root within an environment of empathy and optimism. From Blame to Collaboration A cornerstone of the FIR model is removing blame. At Thrive, parents are not viewed as the cause of their child’s struggles, but rather as key partners in recovery. Treatment focuses on joining forces to create a safe, supportive environment where: Families learn to sit with their child's discomfort alongside them without rushing to fix or control it. Parents practice compassionate firmness, setting boundaries grounded in care and safety. Teens and caregivers rebuild trust through open, honest communication. This collaborative framework helps families reestablish a sense of connection and confidence, fostering long-term resilience and open communication that extends beyond the treatment setting. Why Family Matters in Recovery Recovery from eating disorders, OCD, or anxiety isn’t a one-person job, it requires integrated care including the family. When families learn to navigate challenges together, they can model emotional regulation, reinforce healthy boundaries, and create conditions for sustained recovery. Through FIR, we aim to strengthen attachment bonds, reshape family interactions, and empower every member of the family to grow. The result is not only symptom reduction but also a deeper sense of unity, hope, and shared endurance, just like the steadfast fir tree that stands resilient through every season. Moving Toward Hope Family Inclusive Recovery invites caregivers and loved ones to become active participants in change. It’s a journey of learning, letting go, and leaning into love and acceptance. Together, families and clinicians can cultivate the courage in clients to face uncertainty, and in doing so, help them discover that recovery is not just possible, but enduring. If you’d like to learn more about Family Intensive Recovery at The Greenhouse or how we support families in eating disorder and OCD treatment, reach out to our team today.
November 14, 2025
The Greenhouse at Thrive Wellness A New Chapter of Hope and Healing in Nevada On Friday, November 14 , we gathered with our partners at Molina Healthcare to share an important moment for our community. Together, we celebrated Molina’s generous $50,000 grant , an investment that is helping bring The Greenhouse to life. Their support is not only a financial contribution—it’s a statement of belief in the young people and families of Nevada who deserve access to compassionate, evidence-based mental healthcare close to home. This gathering marked the beginning of something we’ve dreamed about for years: a place designed specifically for adolescents and emerging adults to receive the care, connection, and support they need during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Something New Is Growing In early 2026 , Thrive Wellness will open The Greenhouse , Nevada’s first residential treatment center devoted to adolescents and emerging adults navigating eating disorders, anxiety, and OCD . For too long, families have faced a heartbreaking dilemma—send their child far from home for treatment or go without the specialized care they need. The Greenhouse is our answer to that gap. It will be a place where young people can settle into an environment built for healing, where they are understood, supported, and surrounded by a team that believes in their capacity to recover. The Greenhouse represents a natural extension of our mission. It’s a living expression of our belief that recovery is possible—and that with the right support, families can find their footing again. 
November 11, 2025
Are you looking for a meaningful way to give back this holiday season? Thrive Wellness is excited to continue our 6th Annual Giving Tree Program in collaboration with Perenn Bakery this winter. This year, Thrive Wellness Reno and Perenn Bakery are proud to partner with Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Northern Nevada. The organization supports families with children receiving treatment at area hospitals, providing comfort, hope, and a home-away-from-home during challenging times. Ronald McDonald House Charities offers essential services, removes barriers, strengthens families, and promotes healing when children need healthcare the most. How It Works Simply take one (or a few) tags from the Giving Tree, each listing an item you can purchase and donate for residents of the Ronald McDonald House. Then, drop off your item(s) at one of our designated donation locations by Friday, December 19. Items Needed: Restaurant gift cards Walmart or Target gift cards Games, puzzles, and coloring books Toys (Barbie, Hot Wheels, Lego sets, craft sets, magnet blocks, baby dolls, action figures, journals, infant toys, etc.) Children's books (picture, chapter, and graphic novels) Toiletry sets (for adults) Lotion/self-care gift sets (for adults) Sweatshirts/hoodies (adults, XS-XXL) Scarves, gloves, fuzzy socks, pajamas (all sizes) Infant diapers, onesies, and baby bottles Bulk individually wrapped snacks (granola bars, chips, etc.) Please ensure all donations are new, in original packaging, and unwrapped. Donation Drop-Off Locations Please deliver donations by Friday, December 19, to one of the following sites: Thrive Wellness 201 W Liberty St., Suite 201, Reno, NV 89501 Perenn Grocery 7600 Rancharrah Pkwy, Suite 130, Reno, NV 89511 The first 50 people to return their donations will receive a complimentary ornament gift!  Why We Give Back Through our Giving Tree program, we’re honoring one of our core values at Thrive Wellness: staying rooted in community. This annual tradition allows us to give back to those who need support most during the holiday season. We invite you to join us by taking a tag at any Thrive or Perenn location and helping spread kindness throughout our community. There’s no better way to embrace the holiday spirit than by supporting local families with thoughtful, heartfelt donations. We are deeply grateful for your generosity and continued support. Thank you for helping us make a difference!
More Posts

Start your healing journey today

NEXT STEPS

Are you ready to find hope? We can't wait to connect you with the care you need. To get started with us, please reach out using the link below.   

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Learn more →

Perinatal

Mental Health

Learn more →

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Learn more →

Perinatal

Mental Health

Learn more →