Food Energy Density in Eating Disorders

Nutritional insufficiency is defined as an inadequate amount of nutrition due to decreased food/caloric intake, often due to an eating disorder, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia. Often when re-feeding these chronically malnourished patients, they can experience changes in their mood and/or body image, metabolic abnormalities and functional aberrations of their gastrointestinal system described as re-feeding syndrome, which all can adversely effect their recovery. In our pilot study, we are attempting to determine whether adjustments in the amounts of energy dense foods, such as fat, in the current inpatient protocol meal plans will lead to a change in the hospital stay duration, alter their recovery by affecting vital signs, weight or need for supplemental feeds or medications, effect gastrointestinal re-feeding syndrome symptoms (bloating, gastroesophageal reflux, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain), and/or effect their perceived body image or cause any changes in their mood. 1. To determine whether a higher amount of fat calories per day within a normal range in a Nutritional Insufficiency patient's diet will lead to a shorter inpatient hospital stay duration. 2. To determine whether a higher amount of fat calories per day within a normal range in a Nutritional Insufficiency patient's diet will lead to less gastrointestinal re-feeding syndrome symptoms. 3. To determine whether a higher amount of fat calories per day within a normal range in a Nutritional Insufficiency patient's diet will effect their body image and/or alter their mood.