Eating Disorders
Family-Empowered Treatment in Higher Levels of Care for Adolescent Eating Disorders: The Role of the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Family-based treatment (FBT) is the leading evidence-based treatment for adolescents with eating disorders,1 and has particularly strong research support for the treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN).2 FBT is an outpatient treatment consisting of 3 phases.2 In phase 1, because patients with AN are often ambivalent about treatment and recovery, parents are given the responsibility for weight restoration. This involves making all eating-related decisions for their child, including deciding what will be eaten and when, how much will be eaten, monitoring all meals and snacks, and curtailing physical activity.Discrepancies Between Australian Eating Disorder Clinicians and Consumers Regarding Essential Components of Dietetic Treatment
A recent Delphi study indicated that, compared with eating disorder (ED) consumers and carers, ED specialists were less likely to endorse involvement of a dietitian as a standard component of treatment. In addition, there was disagreement between these groups regarding the inclusion of a number of components of dietetic treatment.Students with Food Insecurity Are More Likely to Screen Positive for an Eating Disorder at a Large, Public University in the Midwest
College students experience a disproportionately high prevalence of both food insecurity and eating disorders. Food insecurity is associated with stress, irregular eating patterns, weight change, depression, and body dissatisfaction, making it a possible risk factor for the onset of eating disorders. However, the association between food insecurity and eating disorders among college students is not well understood.Athlete-Specific Treatment for Eating Disorders: Initial Findings from the Walden GOALS Program
Eating disorders are a public health concern because of the high levels of comorbidity with other mental health diagnoses such as anxiety, depression, and the associated suicide risk.1 Athletes are at increased risk for eating disorders compared with the general public2,3 and unique features of both the athlete mindset and the sport environment have been shown to relate to risks for eating pathology, body dissatisfaction, and compulsive exercise.4-10 Eating disorders in sport have a range of serious metabolic and physiologic consequences with negative effects on nearly every organ system in the body.The Use of the Plate-by-Plate Approach for Adolescents Undergoing Family-Based Treatment
Family-based treatment (FBT) is the leading outpatient treatment for adolescents with eating disorders, and an increasing number of research studies support its efficacy.1-8 The goal of FBT is to effectively and efficiently establish weight restoration and the health of the adolescent. It does so in the least restrictive environment, while viewing the parents or primary caregivers as the best resource for feeding their child until the child is able to resume appropriate eating independently.A Higher-Calorie Refeeding Protocol Does Not Increase Adverse Outcomes in Adult Patients with Eating Disorders
Patients with eating disorders (EDs) are often considered a high-risk population to refeed. Current research advises using “start low, go slow” refeeding methods (∼1,000 kcal/day, advancing ∼500 kcal/day every 3 to 4 days) in adult patients with severe EDs to prevent the development of refeeding syndrome (RFS), typically characterized by decreases in serum electrolyte levels and fluid shifts.
