Supporting Adolescents with Eating Disorders

We help adolescents who are dealing with an eating disorder, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, build a healthier relationship with food, their bodies and themselves through expert care. Our adolescent medicine physicians and care team work with dietitians, therapists and families to understand each adolescent’s unique needs. Together, we guide them toward healing.

  • Anorexia nervosa and atypical anorexia nervosa: Serious conditions that involve restricting food intake. It’s often due to an intense fear of gaining weight or a distorted body image.
  • Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): Includes avoiding certain foods or not eating enough. Factors for ARFID are typically a fear of choking or strong aversions to taste or texture. 
  • Binge-eating disorder: Includes regularly eating large amounts of food in a short time. There is also a feeling of loss of control. 
  • Bulimia nervosa: Occurs when episodes of binge eating are followed by purging behaviors. This can include vomiting, excessive exercise or using laxatives.

The common features of an eating disorder include:

  • Abnormal or distorted thoughts about food and eating
  • Abnormal or distorted body image and weight perceptions
  • Problematic behaviors around meals, eating, or weight management

Before your initial consultation appointment, you will receive an electronic link asking the patient to complete several questionnaires that help us evaluate your child for eating disorders and related conditions, like anxiety. Parents can help with accessing the questionnaires and clarifying questions if needed, but we ask that the patient complete these questionnaires on their own. 

When you check in for your initial consultation appointment, you may be asked to complete additional questionnaires.

We understand that completing many forms can feel overwhelming. Our goal is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the factors affecting someone with eating concerns so that we can develop the most effective plan possible to support recovery. To do this efficiently, we use brief but effective questionnaires. During recovery, we may ask you to complete follow-up questionnaires to monitor progress and ensure continued improvement.

Your adolescent’s care plan may include:

  • Medical visits for physical exams, vital signs and lab tests
  • Nutrition visits for assessment and counseling 
  • Psychological visits for screening and ongoing mental health support
  • Treatment planning visits to review progress and set goals
  • Specialty visits for medication management or diagnostic testing

Our clinic evaluation process differs from that of other medical appointments. At each visit, your check-in and intake will include the following 3 step process to assess your adolescent’s health and safety. This process usually takes about 20 minutes. The eating disorder team reviews this information before meeting with you and your adolescent to ensure that outpatient care remains safe and appropriate.

  1. Provide a urine sample
    A quick urine dip test to check for signs of dehydration or kidney problems.
  2. Weight check
    Your adolescent will be weighed wearing a gown only, to ensure the most accurate measurement, and will stand on the scale facing backwards to reduce anxiety.
  3. Orthostatic vital signs measurement
    Blood pressure and heart rate are measured while lying down and then standing up at specific intervals to assess cardiovascular safety.

Your care team will provide you with an appointment schedule to guide your adolescent’s recovery.

Your adolescent’s care team may include:

  • Adolescent Medicine Physicians: Evaluate physical health, monitor vital signs, and oversee medical safety.
  • Registered Dietitian/Nutritionists (RD): Assess nutritional status and work with patients and families on individualized meal planning.
  • Registered Nurses: Triage phone calls, provide education, answer questions, and assist with medication refills.
  • Medical Assistant Coordinator: Manages care coordination to help ensure that you and your family have a well-organized, seamless experience during your visits. 
  • Medical Assistants (MA): Support clinic intake by measuring vital signs and preparing patients for appointments.

In addition to your core team, you may also work with the following professionals, depending on your individual needs:

  • Psychologists and Mental Health Therapists: Conduct psychological evaluations, provide individual and family-focused therapy, and support emotional well-being during recovery.
  • Social Workers, Case Managers, and Clinic Support Staff: Offer emotional support, connect families to resources, and assist with care coordination and practical needs.
  • Specialty Therapists: Include feeding, physical, or occupational therapists who provide additional evaluation and therapy as needed to support recovery goals.

Please note that Phoenix Children's is a teaching hospital. You may meet students or residents training under the supervision of our experienced staff.

Yes. Some youth require hospital admission when their condition is life-threatening and cannot be safely managed at home.