Eating Disorders - Treatment for Anorexia

Highlights	Complications of Anorexia	Treatment for Anorexia
Introduction	Symptoms	Therapy
Risk Factors	Diagnosis	Resources
Causes	Treatment	References
Complications of Bulimia	Treatment for Bulimia

Treatment for Anorexia

The treatment goals for patients with anorexia require a team approach. Doctors should immediately check and treat any medical problems related to the condition, such as bone loss, imbalances in important electrolytes, and any hormonal deficiencies, including thyroid and reproductive hormones. Nutrition rehabilitation and psychotherapy also plays an important part in anorexia therapy.

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Many moderately to severely ill anorexic patients require hospitalization, particularly under the following circumstances:

When weight loss continues even with outpatient treatment
When weight is 30% below ideal body weight
When depression is severe or the patient is suicidal
When there are symptoms of medical complications (e.g., disturbed heart rate, low potassium levels, altered mental status, low blood pressure, severe sensations of cold)

In some severe cases, patients with anorexia may need to be hospitalized involuntarily. A 2000 study reported that such patients respond as well as patients who were admitted voluntarily. And, most later agreed that such treatment had been necessary.

Duration of Inpatient Treatment. For people with severe anorexia, many experts believe that 10 to 12 weeks of hospitalization with full nutritional support are required to reach ideal body weight. Check to see how many days your insurance company allows for inpatient treatment. Many rarely cover more than 15 days in the hospital, which places patients with severe anorexia at great risk for relapse and serious health consequences. It is particularly critical for women with both diabetes and anorexia to achieve 100% of ideal weight before being released.

Team Approaches. A multidisciplinary team approach with consistent support and counseling is essential for long-term recovery from all severe eating disorders. Depending on the severity and type of disorder, team members may include the following:

Doctors specializing in relevant medical complications
Dietitians
Cognitive-behavioral therapists (bulimia is best treated with a combination of antidepressants and cognitive therapy)
Psychotherapists
Nurses

All should be skilled in treating eating disorders. Studies have found that people treated by such specialists have a lower mortality rate than those treated only as psychiatric patients.

Measuring Body Mass Index

The body mass index (BMI) is the measurement of body fat. It is derived by multiplying a person's weight in pounds by 703 and then dividing it twice by the height in inches.

A healthy BMI for women over age 20 is between 19 and 24.
Those over 24 are considered to be at risk for health problems related to obesity.
Those under 17.5 are considered to be at risk for health problems related to anorexia. (It should be noted that young teenagers can have lower BMIs without necessarily being anorexic.)

For example, a woman who is 5'5" and weights 125 pounds has a healthy BMI of 21. A woman at the same height who weighs 90 pounds would have a dangerously low BMI of 15.