A shift to placing parents in charge: Does it improve weight gain in youth with anorexia?

Paediatrics & Child Health
Joanne L GusellaKristin Lalji

Abstract

Family-based treatment (FBT) has emerged as a promising approach for medically stable youth with anorexia nervosa (AN). While there is evidence that therapists embrace the core principles of FBT, most face barriers in implementing the model with fidelity. Little research has been conducted to determine whether adhering to the core methods of placing parents in charge are sufficient in restoring weight in youth with AN. This study involved a chart review of youth under 16 years of age, treated by a Canadian tertiary care health centre-based eating disorders team (EDT). The purpose was to compare the weight gain of youth treated before and after the team was trained in FBT and shifted to empowering parents to be in charge of weight gain. As predicted, youth who participated in family sessions adhering to the 'parents in charge' approach (PIC, N=32) made greater gains in percentage of ideal body weight (%IBW) and were more likely to reach body weights within a healthy range as compared with youth (N=14) who participated in a 'non-specific therapy' (NST) involving expert driven psycho-educational family sessions. Youth whose parents were placed in charge of weight gain were also significantly less likely to be hospitalized on the p...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jul 13, 2019·European Eating Disorders Review : the Journal of the Eating Disorders Association·Gina DimitropoulosD Blake Woodside
Feb 6, 2020·Journal of Eating Disorders·Jennifer CouturierDavid Pilon
Dec 23, 2020·European Eating Disorders Review : the Journal of the Eating Disorders Association·Janet TreasureAmy Harrison
Jul 24, 2021·Journal of Eating Disorders·Kristen HindleyJennifer McIntosh

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Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a psychiatric condition characterized by severe weight loss and secondary problems associated with malnutrition. Here is the latest research on AN.