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Treatment if the condition gets worse

Some people with anorexia nervosa may need to be hospitalized or admitted to an eating disorder facility to receive urgent care until they are recovered enough to undergo outpatient care. Generally, it is recommended that those who weigh 20% below their expected body weight for their height should be in an inpatient treatment program. It is not uncommon for a person weighing less than 30% of their expected body weight to require 2 to 6 months of inpatient treatment.

Those weighing less than 85% of their healthy weight have great difficulty gaining weight when they are not in a highly structured program like an eating disorder facility. Being severely underweight can cause dehydration, starvation, and electrolyte imbalance—all of which can lead to death.

Insurance coverage for inpatient treatment of eating disorders varies. Be sure to check with the treatment facility and your insurance carrier to find out your coverage.

Treatment of anorexia will be more difficult the longer a person has had the condition, has not been able to work through family relationship problems, has a personality disorder (such as obsessive-compulsive personality disorder), abuses laxatives or diuretics, or induces vomiting.

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Reviewed: 03/2006