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Acta Medica Medianae
Correspondence to:
Institut za javno zdravlje Kliničkog centra u Nišu Bulevar dr Zorana Đinđića 50 18000 Niš, Srbija Tel.: 018-226-384 lok140 E-mail: mani@junis.ni.ac.yu
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Review article
Medical Nutrition Therapy in Management of Eating Disorders
Maja Nikolić, Miloš Pavlović i Milica M. Vojinović
Medicinski fakultet u Nišu
The treatment of eating disorders demands a comprehensive medical approach, where a dietitian has an important role, primarily due to numerous instances of malnutrition. The objective of this paper was to recapitulate the research findings and clinical evidence which show the importance of medical nutrition therapy in the treatment of eating disorders; furthermore, they present significant guidelines for clinical practice. The research methods have entailed a thorough exploration of literature available at research data bases. The results of the research studies published so far have unambiguously pointed out that, when eating disorders are concerned, there is an urgent need for a diet therapy in order for the patient to restore the appropriate body weight as well as normal eating habits. On the one hand, certain authors suggest returning to normal nutritional habits immediately, whereas, on the other hand, certain others advocate a diet therapy program, that is, a gradual process of recovery. Patients incapable of oral food intake receive enteral nutrition. Parenteral nutrition is applied for recovering the lost electrolytes and fluids, but it should be applied rarely, primarily in states of urgency. For patients suffering from eating disorders the increase in weight indicates good chances of recovery; therefore, the patient’s nutritional status should be carefully and continuously noted. Finally, it is important that our country, too, should adopt a carefully prescribed and conducted diet therapy as an obligatory step in the treatment of patients with eating disorders. Acta Medica Medianae 2009;48(1):50-55.
Key words: eating disorders, nutrition, medical nutrition therapy, malnutrition |