Eating disorders are some of the most challenging and complex mental health conditions, often resulting in long-term health complications and high treatment costs. However, for many individuals and families, accessing high-quality, effective care has traditionally been difficult due to factors like geographical barriers, insurance limitations, and a lack of tailored treatment options. Equip, a virtual eating disorder treatment provider, is on a mission to change this by offering accessible, family-based care that fits into patients’ lives on their schedules. Recently, Equip raised $13 million in Series A funding, bringing its total funding to $17 million. This funding round was led by Optum Ventures, with additional participation from .406 Ventures and existing investor F-Prime Capital.
Founded in 2019, Equip’s mission is to transform eating disorder treatment by making it more accessible, affordable, and effective through virtual, outpatient care. With the recent financial boost, Equip is poised to expand its reach and continue improving its evidence-based treatment model, ultimately helping more individuals and families access the help they need.
The Growing Need for Accessible Eating Disorder Treatment
Eating disorders are a global health crisis. According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), approximately 9% of the U.S. population will experience an eating disorder at some point in their lives. These disorders affect individuals of all ages, genders, and backgrounds, and often begin during adolescence. While the need for effective treatment is high, traditional in-person care options are often limited, especially in rural or underserved areas.
One of the main barriers to accessing treatment is the availability of specialized care teams. For individuals struggling with eating disorders, it is crucial to have a multidisciplinary team that can address the physical, psychological, and nutritional aspects of the condition. Unfortunately, in many communities, it is nearly impossible to assemble such a team, especially one that is covered by insurance. Equip aims to bridge this gap by providing a comprehensive virtual care model that delivers this multidisciplinary treatment from the comfort of patients’ homes.
Equip’s Family-Based Model: Evidence-Based and Patient-Centered
What sets Equip apart from other treatment providers is its unique approach to eating disorder care. The company operates on a family-based treatment (FBT) model, which has been shown to be highly effective for treating eating disorders, particularly in children and adolescents. FBT involves the whole family in the treatment process, empowering parents to be active participants in their child’s recovery.
Equip’s model of care includes a five-person treatment team, which consists of a peer and family mentor, a therapist, a dietitian, and a medical physician such as a psychiatrist, primary care doctor, or pediatrician. All of these clinicians are W-2 employees of Equip, meaning they are fully integrated into the company’s operations and care model. Importantly, Equip’s entire team works remotely, providing care through secure video calls and messaging platforms, making treatment flexible and accessible.
Patients receive unlimited access to these clinicians, with families having the ability to communicate with the care team at any time through a shared medical record. This level of continuous support allows families to stay involved in the treatment process and ensures that patients have the guidance they need, when they need it. “Instead of rearranging your schedule for treatment, treatment can fit your schedule,” said Erin Parks, Equip’s co-founder and Chief Clinical Officer.
This focus on flexibility is especially important for families who are juggling the demands of work, school, and daily life. By offering outpatient care, Equip enables patients to receive treatment while still participating in their normal activities, such as attending school or extracurricular activities. This is a key part of Equip’s strategy to make treatment more accessible without interrupting the lives of patients, particularly adolescents who are still navigating the challenges of growing up.
The Impact of Family-Based Treatment (FBT)
The evidence supporting family-based treatment is robust. Studies have shown that FBT is one of the most effective treatments for adolescent patients with eating disorders, particularly anorexia nervosa. In fact, research has found that FBT can lead to recovery rates of up to 70-80% for adolescents with eating disorders when implemented correctly.
The focus of FBT is on empowering families to take an active role in their child’s recovery, which can be particularly important for patients who may be resistant to traditional forms of therapy. By involving the family in the treatment process, FBT aims to reduce the power struggles and conflicts that often arise when a young person is struggling with an eating disorder. Instead, the treatment focuses on helping families work together to help the patient regain a healthy relationship with food and their body.
Through its virtual, family-centered approach, Equip has been able to make this effective treatment model available to patients across the country. By removing the geographic and logistical barriers to access, Equip is able to provide the benefits of FBT to a much broader group of individuals than traditional in-person clinics could reach.
Addressing Insurance and Affordability Challenges
One of the biggest challenges for eating disorder treatment providers is securing insurance reimbursement. Many insurance plans do not adequately cover the costs of eating disorder treatment, and even when coverage is provided, it is often limited. This can create significant financial barriers for families who are already struggling with the emotional and physical toll of an eating disorder.
Equip’s founders, Kristina Saffran and Erin Parks, have worked hard to overcome these barriers. In addition to providing high-quality care, Equip has established strong partnerships with commercial and Medicaid payers to ensure that its services are affordable for patients. As Kristina Saffran explained, “We said, ‘Look, this is the reality of eating disorders: They affect a lot more people than you think they do, and they’re quite costly. But there is good evidence-based care that can get people better, keep them better, and by the way, it’s a fraction of the cost when you give people holistic outpatient care that actually works.’”
By working closely with insurers and demonstrating the cost-effectiveness of their model, Equip has been able to secure reimbursement for its services, making it more affordable for families who need treatment. This approach not only improves access to care but also helps reduce the overall financial burden of eating disorder treatment, which is often a significant barrier to recovery.
Expanding Access: Growth and Future Plans
Equip’s recent Series A funding will enable the company to expand its services to new states and continue developing its platform. Currently, Equip operates in California, New York, and Texas, providing services to children and young adults between the ages of 6 and 24. However, with the new funding, the company plans to expand into another five to seven states, including New Jersey, Washington, Ohio, and Florida.
The expansion is a key part of Equip’s growth strategy. By broadening its geographic reach, Equip can help even more families access the treatment they need, particularly in areas where eating disorder care may be scarce. In addition to expanding its footprint, Equip plans to continue enhancing its technology platform, making it even easier for patients and families to access care and communicate with their treatment teams.
“We’re collecting data to make sure that people are recovering, and that they’re recovering as quickly as they can,” said Erin Parks. Equip is committed to using data-driven insights to continually improve its care model, ensuring that patients receive the best possible treatment.
A Vision for the Future
The $13 million raised in Series A funding is a significant milestone for Equip, but it is just the beginning. With its innovative virtual, family-based treatment model, Equip is helping to redefine how eating disorders are treated in the 21st century. By making care more accessible, affordable, and effective, Equip is not only improving the lives of patients but also changing the landscape of eating disorder treatment.
With plans to expand its services, deepen its payer partnerships, and enhance its technology platform, Equip is poised for continued success. As more individuals and families turn to virtual care options for mental health treatment, Equip’s model serves as a blueprint for how digital health solutions can address long-standing challenges in the eating disorder space. The future of eating disorder treatment is virtual, family-centered, and data-driven—and Equip is leading the way.
