Define nutritional management of severe anorexia nervosa?
The nutritional management of severe anorexia nervosa is therefore, considered in terms of three consecutive phases:
- Resuscitation: First, identify and correct medical emergencies such as hypothermia, hypoglycaemia, electrolyte disturbance, dehydration and cardiovascular function as far as possible. Infections may also be treated.
- Repair: the tissue/organ functions cannot be restored unless the cellular activity has been repaired. In this context, the correction of multiple specific nutrient deficiencies, needs to be corrected, and
- Repletion: the ultimate objective of treatment is to return body composition to normal. But, abnormal body composition can only be corrected safely when the cellular machinery has been adequately repaired, Any aggressive attempts to drive weight gain at an early stage of treatment or correction of abnormal blood biochemistry are potentially dangerous. Hence, slow and systematic repletion and treatment regimen needs to be considered.