International Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Open Access

Nutritional Rehabilitation

The initial goal of nutritional rehabilitation from anorexia nervosa is weight restoration. Although the diagnostic criteria for this disorder is that the individual is at or below 85 percent of normal body weight, often the person is drastically below what would be considered in the normal and healthy range. A female who would appear healthy and robust at 130 lbs., could easily be 70 lbs. at the point of entering treatment for the disorder.Weight restoration is in no way as simple as encouraging or even “forcing” an individual to consume food. It is a delicate and complex process. If a woman is in inpatient treatment, the clinicians can utilize a nasogastric feeding tube. In this process, a small tube is threaded through the nose and down into the stomach; it remains in place throughout treatment. Liquid food runs through the tube, providing a steady flow of nutrients.