NEDA TOOLKIT for Parents
Identifying and treating eating disorders
American Academy of Pediatrics
Brief Summary
Bibliographic Source
Identifying and treating eating disorders. Pediatrics
2003 Jan;111(1):204-11. [78 references] PubMed
Major Recommendations
Pediatricians need to be knowledgeable about the
early signs and symptoms of disordered eating
and other related behaviors.
Pediatricians should be aware of the careful
balance that needs to be in place to decrease the
growing prevalence of eating disorders in children
and adolescents. When counseling children on risk
of obesity and healthy eating, care needs to be
taken not to foster overaggressive dieting and to
help children and adolescents build self-esteem
while still addressing weight concerns.
Pediatricians should be familiar with the
screening and counseling guidelines for
disordered eating and other related behaviors.
Pediatricians should know when and how to
monitor and/ or refer patients with eating
disorders to best address their medical and
nutritional needs, serving as an integral part of the
multidisciplinary team.
Pediatricians need to be aware of the resources in
their communities so they can coordinate care of
various treating professionals, helping to create a
seamless system between inpatient and
outpatient management in their communities.
Pediatricians should help advocate for parity of
mental health benefits to ensure continuity of
care for the patients with eating disorders.
Pediatricians need to advocate for legislation and
regulations that secure appropriate coverage for
medical, nutritional, and mental health treatment
in settings appropriate to the severity of the
illness (inpatient, day hospital, intensive
outpatient, and outpatient).
Pediatricians are encouraged to participate in the
development of objective criteria for the optimal
treatment of eating disorders, including the use of
specific treatment modalities and the transition
from one level of care to another.
Links Link to Full Summary:
http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?ss =15&doc_id=3589&string=
Link to Complete Guideline:
http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/ pediatrics;111/1/204
Pediatricians should be encouraged to calculate
and plot weight, height, and body mass index
(BMI) using age and gender-appropriate graphs at
routine annual pediatric visits.
Pediatricians can play a role in primary prevention
through office visits and community- or school-
based interventions with a focus on screening,
education, and advocacy.
Pediatricians can work locally, nationally, and
internationally to help change cultural norms
conducive to eating disorders and proactively to
change media messages.
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