CURTIN University research has found that an inpatient treatment approach called 'high-energy refeeding' can significantly improve both the physical and psychological health of adults with eating disorders.
This method, now commonly used to treat malnourished adolescents with anorexia nervosa can be used for adults, and involves progressively increasing energy intake over a short period to rapidly restore nutritional health.
Dr Emily Jeffery, co-author of the study, emphasised that while high-energy refeeding is beneficial for mildly and moderately malnourished adults, clinicians should adjust protocols for severely malnourished patients to prevent complications such as refeeding syndrome.
"This is a potentially fatal condition triggered by a sudden shift in fluid and electrolytes when a severely malnourished person starts eating again," Dr Jeffery told Pharmacy Daily.
"Helping to avoid complications could be hospital pharmacists who can suggest how much suitable electrolytes should be given, depending on how low the levels are, along with monitoring and supplementing thiamine, phosphate, magnesium and potassium, and recommending suitable vitamins for these patients," Dr Jeffery explained.
The study's researchers investigated 97 voluntary hospital inpatients, including 55 adults and 42 adolescents with eating disorders, primarily anorexia nervosa, with both age groups showing similar positive outcomes in weight gain and psychological health improvements after undergoing high-energy refeeding.
"A key point that came out of the study was that for adults it was safe, and they could tolerate the higher calorie refeeding protocol," added Dr Jeffery.
"Only one adult participant in our study did not tolerate the high-energy protocol due to oedema, which is an excess of fluid accumulating in body tissues," added Masters student and study lead Fiona Salter.
She mentioned that previous concerns about adult patients undergoing high-energy refeeding did not play out in the study.
Looking ahead, the research team plans to investigate the effectiveness of high-energy refeeding in less structured environments, such as intensive day programs, where patient meals are only partially supervised.
"We'll be exploring whether similar outcomes can be achieved outside the hospital setting," concluded Salter. JG
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