Medical Health Encyclopedia

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.) Text Continues Below 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.

Restoring Normal Weight and Nutritional Intervention

Nutritional intervention is essential. Weight gain is associated with fewer symptoms of anorexia and with improvements in both physical and mental function. Restoring good nutrition can help reduce bone loss, and raising the level of energy available to the body by balancing food intake and exercise can normalize hormonal function. Restoring weight is also essential before the patient can fully benefit from additional psychotherapeutic treatments.