Nutrition Intervention in the Treatment of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders (EDs), including anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS) are a group of mental illnesses that have challenged treatment providers, caregivers, and indeed, people diagnosed with an eating disorder. These disorders are defined by clinical criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) (1). Presently, the definitions of EDs are being redefined as the DSM task force works on creating the DSM-V criteria, which may include specific criteria for binge eating disorder (BED) and revised thresholds for diagnoses. A discussion of the American Psychiatric Association proposed changes to the DSM diagnostic criteria for eating disorders can be found in the American Dietetic Association (ADA) Position Paper “Nutrition Intervention in the Treatment of Eating Disorders” (2).