The Hospital del Mar practices an experimental neuromodulation technique to reduce symptoms of anxiety and obsession in the most resistant cases of this eating disorder 

For 15 years, Ana Belén Gómez Conde survived on four yogurts and two apples a day due to her severe anorexia. She found a lifeline in an experimental deep brain stimulation treatment at the Hospital del Mar in Barcelona. Neurosurgeon Dr. Gloria Villalba conducted the procedure, which involved implanting electrodes in the brain area associated with the disease and sending continuous electrical impulses to modulate malfunctioning brain circuits. The procedure, however, does not cure anorexia, but can alleviate symptoms such as anxiety and depression. Despite the challenges, including an infection that required temporary removal of the device, Belén has made significant strides. She has gone from consuming 250 kilocalories a day to 1,800. The procedure is still experimental and reserved for severe, chronic cases.