More than 5 million Americans suffer from
eating disorders. Five percent of females and 1% of males have
anorexia nervosa,
bulimia nervosa, or
binge eating disorder. It is estimated that 85% of
eating disorders have their onset during the adolescent age period. Although
Eating Disorders fall under the category of psychiatric diagnoses, there are a number of nutritional and medical problems and issues that require the expertise of a registered dietitian. Because of the complex biopsychosocial aspects of
eating disorders, the optimal assessment and ongoing management of these conditions appears to be with an interdisciplinary team consisting of professionals from medical, nursing, nutritional, and mental health disciplines (1).
Medical Nutrition Therapy provided by a registered dietitian trained in the area of
eating disorders plays a significant role in the treatment and management of
eating disorders. The registered dietitian, however, must understand the complexities of
eating disorders such as comorbid illness, medical and psychological complications, and boundary issues. The registered dietitian needs to be aware of the specific populations at risk for
eating disorders and the special considerations when dealing with these individuals.