Reviewed by: Pavel Kornilov, MD, psychiatrist · updated 6 Nov 2026
Key facts
- ICD-10 code
- F50
- Who leads care
- a psychiatrist and a psychotherapist, with an in-person physician and dietitian when needed
- Format
- video consultations, family sessions, and regular psychotherapy
- Duration
- the first session takes about an hour; treatment takes months
- Confidentiality
- you can seek help without giving your surname; medical confidentiality applies
- When it’s urgent
- fainting, an irregular heartbeat, severe weakness — call 103 or 112
- Outcome
- fewer symptoms, restored health, and a calmer relationship with food
What you should know
For people with an eating disorder, taking the first step is often very hard: shame gets in the way, along with the fear of not being understood and the feeling that “it isn’t that serious.” That is why we try to keep the path short. You message us on WhatsApp — you don’t even have to name the topic; it is enough to say you need a psychiatric consultation. You choose a time, receive a link, and join from your own room. No one will weigh you at the first session or discuss your appearance.
The doctor asks how you feel about food and your body, what happens during the day, what thoughts and feelings accompany meals, and whether there are rituals, binges, or compensatory behaviors. Your overall state matters too: sleep, mood, anxiety, and physical well-being. If the parents of a teenager reach out, the first session may be held with them alone. By the end, the doctor explains what is happening and proposes a path forward, including any necessary in-person examinations.
When to See a Specialist
- thoughts about food, body, and weight take up most of the day and get in the way of life
- strict food rules, skipping meals, a fear of “losing control”
- episodes of binge eating with a loss of control followed by guilt
- attempts to “make up” for what you ate — self-induced vomiting, exhausting workouts
- avoiding shared meals, celebrations, and eating in front of other people
- self-esteem depends almost entirely on how your body looks
- loved ones notice changes in your eating habits, mood, and well-being
If at least two points apply and the state lasts longer than two weeks, it is worth seeing a specialist. Phone consultation is free. If life is at risk, call 112 or 103.
Where Eating Disorders Come From
Eating disorders have no single cause. Contributing factors include biological predisposition, including heredity; temperament traits such as perfectionism, high anxiety, and sensitivity to judgment; and life experiences such as bullying about appearance, criticism of one’s body within the family, and traumatic events. The disorder often begins with a diet or a desire to “get yourself in shape” that gradually spirals out of control.
Cultural pressure plays an important role: the cult of a certain look on social media, comparing yourself to filtered images, and nutrition advice with no medical basis. The stress of study and work, moving, or a breakup can act as a trigger. Eating disorders often occur together with depression, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. This is not a whim or a lack of willpower but an illness that requires professional help.
How Online Help for Eating Disorders Works
The psychiatrist carries out an initial assessment: discusses your symptoms, overall well-being, and co-occurring conditions, and assesses medical risks based on your answers. They then propose a plan: regular psychotherapy by video and, if needed, treatment for co-occurring depression or anxiety. For teenagers, the family plays a key role, so some sessions are held with the parents. Conveniently, sessions don’t require trips across the city during rush hour.
Eating disorders can affect the heart, kidneys, and hormones, so online monitoring must always be supplemented with in-person care: lab tests, an ECG, and an examination by a general practitioner or pediatrician. The doctor will tell you when this is needed. In case of fainting, an irregular heartbeat, marked weakness, or confusion, as well as thoughts of self-harm, call 103 or 112. In severe cases, treatment is provided in a hospital.
How we help
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Enhanced CBT for eating disorders (CBT-E) is one of the methods with the strongest evidence base for bulimia and binge eating disorder. It helps establish regular eating, break the cycle of restriction and bingeing, and work on thoughts about your body and self-worth. Therapy follows a clear structure and is well suited to video sessions, including food records kept between meetings.
Family-based therapy for teenagers
For anorexia in teenagers, international guidelines put a family-based approach first. Parents receive support and become allies in treatment: they learn to help their child restore normal eating without turning every meal into a conflict. Online sessions allow both parents to join, even if one of them is at work.
Treatment of co-occurring conditions
Depression, anxiety, and obsessions often accompany eating disorders and make them worse. The psychiatrist assesses these conditions and, if necessary, offers treatment, including medications from the relevant classes, in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Medication is not the main treatment for eating disorders, but it can make psychotherapy easier.
Medical monitoring
Monitoring physical health is an essential part of treatment. The doctor refers you for the necessary tests and examinations and, if needed, coordinates with a general practitioner or pediatrician. The monitoring plan is tailored to each person and depends on their condition. Online sessions make it possible to review results regularly without unnecessary clinic visits.
Myths and facts
MythOnly thin girls get eating disorders
FactEating disorders occur in people of any gender, age, and body type. Binge eating disorder and bulimia are often not visible from appearance. You cannot judge the severity of the condition by how someone’s body looks.
MythIt’s just a diet that went too far
FactA diet may be the starting point, but an eating disorder is an illness that changes thinking, emotions, and behavior. It doesn’t go away through willpower or advice to “just eat normally,” and it requires professional help.
MythIf the person doesn’t want treatment, nothing will help
FactMixed feelings about treatment are part of an eating disorder. Specialists know how to work with this ambivalence, and family support helps. You can start with a consultation for loved ones. Motivation often grows during the course of treatment.
How an online appointment works
- Message or callWrite on WhatsApp or call — our coordinator replies within minutes, day or night. You don't have to give your surname.
- Doctor and timeWe match you with a psychiatrist, addiction specialist or psychotherapist and agree on a time — often the same day.
- Video consultationA secure 50–60 minute video call: the doctor takes a detailed history and uses standardised scales if needed.
- Treatment planYou receive a clear summary, recommendations and a plan: what we do online and what needs an in-person visit or home call.
- Follow-upOnline follow-up sessions, messenger contact with your doctor, and treatment adjustments until you get a stable result.
Prices in Almaty
| Online psychiatrist consultation (50–60 min) | 15 000 ₸ |
| Follow-up online consultation | 12 000 ₸ |
| One month of online psychiatric care | 60 000 ₸ |
The final cost is agreed before treatment starts. Prices are in tenge and do not constitute a public offer.
Where to get help
Psychiatry Online in Almaty: same-day video appointments and two branches for in-person visits — 129 Kurmangazy St., office 8, Almaty and 110 Bogenbay batyra St., office 15, Almaty. Our mobile team works around the clock: all city districts and nearby settlements. If you live elsewhere in Almaty and Almaty Region, starting online is usually easiest.
Confidential and private
An online appointment in Almaty is first of all about privacy: no clinic visit, no waiting room. A private room and headphones are enough. Data is stored in a secure system with restricted access and does not enter any state registry without legal grounds.
Questions and answers
Can an eating disorder be treated entirely online?
Psychotherapy and psychiatric consultations work well online. However, physical health needs to be monitored in person: lab tests, an ECG, and examinations. Severe cases require hospital care. The doctor will draw up a plan that combines online and in-person stages to suit your situation.
Will I be weighed on camera?
No. In online sessions, no one will ask you to step on a scale in front of the camera or show your body. Medical measurements, when needed, are taken at an in-person appointment. Online sessions focus on your condition, thoughts, and behavior.
How can I help my teenager with an eating disorder?
Start with a consultation for parents: the psychiatrist will help you assess the situation and explain how to talk to your teenager. Family therapy is recommended for anorexia. The helpline for children and young people is 150. In case of fainting or severe weakness, call 103 or 112.
How long does treatment take?
It usually takes months, sometimes longer. Much depends on the type of disorder, how long it has lasted, and any co-occurring conditions. The first improvements — fewer binges, more calm — are often noticeable within the first few weeks of regular work.
Is it easy to combine treatment with school or work?
Online sessions at Psychiatry Online are scheduled at a convenient time, and there is no need to travel across Almaty, for example from the Auezov district to the city center. This helps you avoid missing sessions. In-person visits to doctors for tests are planned in advance. The schedule can be adjusted.
Will my anonymity be protected?
Yes. Everything you share is protected by medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System.” Information is not shared without your consent, except in cases expressly provided for by law. You decide whom to tell.
Where can I be seen in Almaty?
Online — from anywhere in the city or region. In person — at two branches: 129 Kurmangazy St., office 8, Almaty and 110 Bogenbay batyra St., office 15, Almaty. Both are open 24/7; home visits cover all city districts and nearby settlements.
Sources and methodology
This page was prepared by the Psychiatry Online medical editorial team based on:
- International Classification of Diseases ICD-10 and ICD-11, World Health Organization
- Clinical diagnosis and treatment protocols of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”
- NICE (UK) and APA (US) guidelines on the treatment of mental disorders
- WHO recommendations on telemedicine and digital health
This information is for reference only and does not replace a consultation with a specialist. Editorial policy