A new study of adults hospitalized for anorexia nervosa strengthens the case for making rapid weight gain a part of efforts for a comprehensive treatment plan, researchers report.
The researchers analyzed data regarding 149 adult inpatients with anorexia nervosa in the Johns Hopkins Eating Disorders Program.
The findings stand in contrast to long held beliefs that patients would not tolerate a faster weight gain plan because it would be too traumatic.
In a report in the
International Journal of Eating Disorders, the researchers say a majority of patients not only tolerated the regimen, they also met their weight gain goals in weeks rather than months, they would recommend the program to others, and they would be willing to repeat it, if needed.