A nutrition and behaviour change group for patients with anorexia nervosa

A pilot outpatient group for patients with anorexia nervosa was developed and co-led by a dietitian and a psychologist on a general hospital eating disorders team. The main goal of the short-term nutrition and behaviour change group was weight gain through normalization of eating. The first three groups conducted in the clinic were evaluated by monitoring group members' weights, collecting pre-treatment and post-treatment scores on the Eating Attitudes Test-26, and comparing earlier and later food records. The mean (+/- standard deviation) patient weight gain per eight-week group cycle was 1.6 (+/- 1.9) kg (p<0.05) and the Eating Attitudes Test-26 score change was -17.1 (+/- 11.5) points (p<0.01). Statistically significant changes were found in consumption of calories (p<0.01), fat (p<0.005), and protein (p<0.02). This treatment approach warrants further refinement and investigation.