Pediatrics Group Offers Guidance on Managing Eating Disorders in Youth

By Joe Elia

Edited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, and Jaye Elizabeth Hefner, MD

Guidance in identifying and managing eating disorders in pediatric practice is the focus of a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics published in Pediatrics.

Given the lack of resources available to treat and monitor eating disorders in this population, the academy warns that pediatricians could be assuming more of the burden themselves. It recommends:

• Screening for eating disorders during annual visits with the use of age- and sex-appropriate charts

• When a disorder is suspected, performing an evaluation that includes medical as well as psychological aspects

• Referring patients to regional specialists, when available

• Advocating for legislation and policies that support treatment of these disorders

The report concludes with a pointer to another academy document, "Preventing Obesity and Eating Disorders in Adolescents," published in 2016 (and reviewed in NEJM Journal Watch Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine).