Eating Disorder Care
At UVA Health Children's, our eating disorder program provides outpatient care for adolescents and young adults with eating disorders. We do not help with weight loss or recommend weight-loss surgeries or procedures.
How We Help with Eating Disorders
Patients and families begin with an initial assessment with a psychotherapist, registered dietitian, and adolescent medicine physician. This provides a diagnosis, as well as our treatment recommendation. Treatment recommendations may include:
- Outpatient follow-up with the UVA Health Teen & Young Adult Health Center
- Brief inpatient medical stabilization
- Referrals to higher levels of care or more support from other programs
Outpatient Treatment
Families play a key role in recovery. We work together to help your child eat regularly, stay medically safe, and build a better relationship with food and their body. We believe all bodies are worthy of respect and that health is not based on weight alone. We support body diversity and use weight-inclusive, evidence-based care.
Evidence-based treatments form the basis of care planning and recommendations made by the Eating Disorder Interdisciplinary Team. Team members maintain regular communication to monitor progress and adjust treatment goals as needed.
Outpatient care for eating disorders includes regular meetings with:
- A healthcare provider, who monitors physical health and safety
- A dietitian, who creates and adjusts meal plans, provides education, and tracks progress
- A therapist, who offers individual and family therapy using:
- Family-Based Treatment (FBT)
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for coping skills and long-term recovery
The frequency of appointments with the treatment team will vary based on several factors, including clinical progress, provider availability, and your family’s needs.
