Dietetic intervention for adult outpatients with an eating disorder: a systematic review and assessment of evidence quality

Context: Eating disorders (EDs) are complex mental illnesses that require medical, psychological, and dietetic intervention to assist patients achieve recovery. Objective: Available evidence was reviewed regarding dietetic intervention for adult outpatients with an ED and the quality of this evidence was assessed. Data sources: Systematic literature searches were conducted using 5 databases (MEDLINE, PreMEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO) for studies comparing adults with an ED receiving a dietetic intervention with those receiving a psychological intervention alone, those receiving a combined dietetic and psychological intervention, or a control group. Data extraction: Literature searches returned 3078 results, with 10 articles reporting on 9 randomized controlled trials meeting the inclusion criteria. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias tool and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework. Data analysis: GRADE assessments for studies involving individuals with anorexia nervosa indicated very low quality of evidence for outcomes including weight, ED psychopathology and ED behaviors, and no studies measured nutritional changes. For studies conducted with participants with bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder, only 1 study included a group receiving combined evidence-based psychological and dietetic intervention. A combined intervention produced moderate-quality evidence for lower attrition, greater abstinence from ED behaviors, and more meals eaten per week in comparison with a stand-alone psychological or dietetic intervention. Conclusions: There is currently limited evidence to sufficiently assess the impact of incorporating dietetic interventions into outpatient treatment for adults with an ED; however, available evidence supports clinical practice guidelines that dietetic intervention should not be delivered as a stand-alone treatment. Additional methodologically sound studies in larger samples are required to fully inform dietetic treatment in EDs and incorporation of such interventions as part of a multidisciplinary treatment approach.

Automated summary

There is currently limited evidence to evaluate the impact of incorporating dietetic interventions into outpatient treatment for adults with an ED. However, studies suggest that a combined psychological and dietetic intervention may produce better outcomes.