Gastrointestinal symptomatology, diagnosis, and treatment history in patients with underweight avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder and anorexia nervosa: Impact on weight restoration in a meal-based behavioral treatment program.

Objective: Gastrointestinal (GI) concerns are often presumed to complicate nutritional rehabilitation for restrictive eating disorders, yet their relationship to weight restoration outcomes is unclear. This retrospective chart review examined GI history and weight-related discharge outcomes in primarily adult, underweight inpatients with anorexia nervosa (AN, N = 107) or avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID, N = 22) treated in a meal-based, behavioral eating disorder program.

Method: Lifetime GI symptomatology, diagnoses, diagnostic tests, and procedures were abstracted from medical records.