This practical reference provides pediatricians, hospitalists, and clinicians with guidance on diagnosing and treating pediatric eating disorders. Pediatric eating disorders are brain-based mental health conditions and the third most common chronic illness in adolescents and pediatric patients—yet they can be difficult to detect, and patients may not present until a medical emergency already exists. Drawing on extensive clinical experience in pediatric eating-disorder treatment, Emory Associate Professor Anna B. Tanner, MD, FAAP, FSAHM, CEDS-C, FAED lays out how to evaluate youth medically, recognize (and respond to) hidden emergencies, and reduce the risk of lifelong consequences such as impaired brain development and lost height potential. This book provides in-depth discussion of each DSM-5 eating disorder, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), binge-eating disorder (BED), atypical anorexia nervosa (AAN), and more.
The author emphasizes youth-specific realities (including why BMI is not a useful measurement when assessing nutrition in children and adolescents) and offers sample dialogue for sensitive family conversations—along with a developmentally informed view of healing, where medical stabilization and psychological remission may not occur on the same timeline.
Topics include
- Approaching the Eating Disorders Medical Evaluation
- The Medical Complications of Eating Disorders
- Evaluating and Supporting Growth in Youth With Restrictive Eating Disorders
- Preventing Harm: Recognizing Medical Emergencies When Caring for Youth With Eating Disorders
- Medical Monitoring
- Supporting Common Medical Concerns During Treatment
- Supporting Healing and Understanding Indicators of Recovery and Remission
- And more…