In a first of their kind, new practice standards for health practitioners treating eating disorders have been released, with a NSLHD eating disorder dietician instrumental in their development.

The Australia and New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED) – the peak body for eating disorder professionals - has published training standards for clinicians to provide guidance on the minimum level of knowledge and skills needed to competently treat patients with eating disorders.

Dr Gabriella Heruc, NSLHD Eating Disorder Dietitian and ANZAED working group chair and spokesperson, said implementation of the practice standards would bring eating disorder treatment closer to best practice; ultimately improving treatment outcomes, reducing financial costs to patients and services and lead to better health outcomes.

“Eating disorders are highly complex and debilitating psychiatric conditions that sadly, affect adults, adolescents and children as young as five,” she said.

“Given the serious psychological, social and physical complications associated with eating disorders, treatment is complex to manage and requires well-coordinated multidisciplinary treatment.”

The ANZAED eating disorder treatment principles and general clinical practice and training standards were recently published in the Journal of Eating Disorders.

Dr Heruc said tertiary health education programs generally provide limited training in eating disorders, and graduates often entered the workforce with inadequate skills needed to work in this field.

“The new practice standards outline the knowledge, practical skills and experience required to competently manage and treat patients with an eating disorder which will consequently improve treatment outcomes for patients,” she said.