The Role of the Pediatrician in Family-Based Treatment for Adolescent Eating Disorders: Opportunities and Challenges

Empiric research supports that family-based treatment (FBT) is an effective treatment for adolescents with eating disorders. This review outlines the role of the pediatrician in FBT for adolescent eating disorders, specifically focusing on how pediatric care changes during treatment, and discusses current challenges and misconceptions regarding FBT. Although FBT introduces unique challenges to pediatricians trained in earlier eating disorder treatment approaches, effective support of the approach by pediatricians is critical to its success.