Dr. Elizabeth Wassenaar, regional medical director at Eating Recovery Center, cautioned against weight shaming following contentious remarks at a joint event involving West Virginia Gov. Morrisey and RFK Jr. Her statement emphasized that public commentary on one's weight can have widespread harmful effects on body image and mental health, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Due to patient complaints highlighting punitive and punitive clinical practices at Eating Recovery Center facilities, Colorado has mandated new rules for eating disorder treatment clinics, to be implemented by January 1, 2026. The regulatory move underscores significant concerns about the facility's ethical responsibility in patient care.

A state investigation reported that Eating Recovery Center ignored multiple suicide attempts by its patients, including an incident where one patient attempted suicide 10 times in a single day, highlighting severe ethical failures in patient care.

An investigation into Eating Recovery Center revealed that in June 2023 the clinic allegedly ignored the needs of suicidal patients, leading to punitive treatment practices. The incident, documented by former patients and prompting legislative proposals for tighter regulation, has raised serious ethical concerns about patient care and the facility’s operational practices.

Former patients and staff allege that Eating Recovery Center employs punitive treatment methods—including threats of nasogastric feeding tubes, forced isolation, and harsh supervision measures—that exacerbate trauma and undermine patient dignity. These reports suggest that the profit-driven, private-equity ownership model may be influencing an overly rigid and potentially harmful treatment approach.