The Inpatient Management of Adolescents with Eating Disorders

Eating disorders affect individuals of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, ethnicities, races, and socioeconomic statuses. They can lead to serious medical complications that require inpatient treatment. The eating disorders that are most likely to lead to medical complications requiring medical inpatient stabilization include anorexia nervosa, atypical anorexia nervosa, avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder, bulimia nervosa, and purging disorder. There are criteria that can help determine if a patient requires inpatient stabilization. Nearly all body systems may be affected. Patients are often treated by following a refeeding protocol that reduces the risk of developing refeeding syndrome, a dangerous and life-threatening state of metabolic derangements that can arise when a malnourished individual begins a renourishment process. Following stabilization, patients should receive further care through a number of different treatment options directed at their underlying eating disorder and by working with a multidisciplinary team.