A retrospective analysis of nutritional management in eating disorder: A single center experience and literature review

Introduction: Eating disorders are serious, progressive psychiatric disorders that generally progress with an effort to control weight and abnormal eating behaviors. Nutritional therapy plays an important role in the treatment of the disease, more studies are needed in this regard. Materials and Methods: The study population was determined as the patients who applied to Istanbul Faculty of Medicine Department of Psychiatry Eating Disorders Outpatient Clinic between 2010 and 2020, hospitalized in Istanbul Medical Faculty Psychiatry Department Eating Disorders Department and evaluated and followed up by the Istanbul Medical Faculty Clinical Nutrition Team. The information of the patients will be accessed through the recorded data in the outpatient clinic cards and hospitalization files. These data consist of anthropometric measurements and BIA, NRS-2002 scores, laboratory findings, scores of psychiatric tests, and methods and results of nutritional treatments. Results:A total of 172 patients were included in the study, including 32 AN restrictive type, 57 AN binge-vomiting type, 35 BN, 48 other eating disorders. The body weights (p˂0,001) and body mass indexes (p˂0,001) of AN and other eating disorders increased significantly. Unlike other eating disorders, AN patients have increased fat percentages (p˂0,005) and muscle mass (p˂0,005). Body weights (p=0,005), body mass indexes (p˂0,005) and fat percentages (p˂0,005) of BN patients decreased significantly. 70.1% of the patients who received nutritional treatment from the first visit increased in weight and 27.8% decreased in weight. No change was detected in the weight of 2.1% of the patients. When the weight changes of the patients were examined from the first visit, it was found that there was a mean change of 1.9±2.1 kg. Conclusion:It has been demonstrated that body weight and body fat percentages of patients with eating disorders can increase after effective nutritional therapy and follow-up. Keywords: Anorexia, Bulimia Nervosa, Nutrition, Nutritional Rehabilitation