Loading Curie Briefs...
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Restrictive diets still reaching eating disorder patients in GI care. A new study found that gastroenterologists prescribed restrictive diets to 16% of patients with a history of an eating disorder — and more than half of those had an active eating disorder at the time. Researchers say the findings point to a clear need for better HCP education on dietary management in this vulnerable population.
Despite existing guidelines advising against it, gastroenterologists are prescribing restrictive diets — think low-FODMAP, gluten-free, low-fat — to patients with a history of eating disorders (EDs). A new retrospective study published in Neurogastroenterology & Motility found this practice is more common than it should be, raising concerns about patient safety and provider awareness.
The study analyzed 285 adults with both a GI disorder and an ED diagnosis who visited an adult gastroenterology clinic between 2010 and 2020. Overall, 18.6% of patients were prescribed a restrictive diet by any provider, with 17.5% receiving such prescriptions specifically from gastroenterologists. Among those with a preexisting ED who were put on a restrictive diet, 60% had an active eating disorder at the time of the consult.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: Restrictive diets can worsen disordered eating behaviors, making this prescribing pattern a real clinical risk. The authors call for prospective research and — more urgently — better education for GI providers on the potential harms of dietary restriction in patients with or at risk for eating disorders.
