Eating Disorder Hospitalization Criteria
According to the AAP patients who meet any one of the following criteria should be re-fed in hospital rather than an outpatient setting (other criteria may pertain, clinical judgment required):
- < 75% ideal body weight, or ongoing weight loss despite intensive management
- Refusal to eat
- Body fat < 10%
- Heart rate < 50 per minute daytime; < 45 bpm nighttime
- Systolic pressure < 90
- Orthostatic changes in pulse (> 20 bpm) or blood pressure (> 10 mm Hg)
- Temperature < 96 F
- Arrhythmia
AAP Admission Criteria: Bulimia Nervosa
- Syncope
- Serum potassium concentration <3.2 mmol/L
- Serum chloride concentration <88 mmol/L
- Esophageal tears
- Cardiac arrhythmias including prolonged QTc
- Hypothermia
- Suicide Risk
- Intractable vomiting
- Hematemesis
- Failure to respond to outpatient treatment
Criteria as of 1 January, 2003. See Pediatrics, Vol. 111, pp. 204-11.
For a discussion on how to determine “ideal” body weight in context of a suspected eating disorder, please read this.
If you would like to speak to one of our physicians directly please call our office at 503-249-8851 and identify yourself as a physician or referring provider. If one of our pediatricians is not available immediately, we will return your call the same day.
