Title:

To Eat or Not to Eat: The Effectiveness of Anorexia Nervosa Treatment to Prevent Relapse and
Refeeding Syndrome

Research Question and Hypothesis:

What treatment plan for Anorexia Nervosa Patients is most effective in preventing both
readmission of patients and refeeding syndrome? The slower the refeeding process occurs for
malnourished patients the more effective the treatment plan is in preventing refeeding syndrome.

Background:
Refeeding syndrome occurs in malnourished patients when a rapid change in basal metabolic
rates occur. The absence of proper nutrition in a biological system makes the body convert
different metabolic functions fueled by food into functions fueled by the energy already stored in
the body i.e. fat and muscle tissue. The shift from the deterioration of the body in order make
energy back to food being the source of energy can shock a biological system which is known as
refeeding syndrome.
Often times in patients with Anorexia Nervosa, when first going into treatment, can experience
refeeding syndrome since the lack of food they have been allowing themselves. Treatment plans
are often designed to try to prevent this from occurring. In order to do this food needs to be
slowly incorporated back into the body, but there is a fine line for this because there becomes a
point when the holding back of nutritional needs often times leads to fueling the patients
Anorexia.

Problem Statement and Rationale:

Finding the balance between preventing refeeding syndrome and keeping a patient on
track with their recovery for Anorexia Nervosa can oftentimes be difficult. Refeeding syndrome
can often be fatal and it is very necessary to take precautionary measures, but eating disorders
are the #1 most deadly mental illness, so the question is how do you balance the 2? Doctors want
to get the patient back to eating a normal diet as fast as possible without causing refeeding
syndrome. The goal of this research project is to determine what methods are most effective in
doing so. This will help people who need treatment for Anorexia in order to determine the most
successful plan for them.

Basis of Hypothesis:
The hypothesis is focused on refeeding syndrome because it is based more on medical
effects in the body rather than treatment for Anorexia which is mostly psychological based.
Tracking medical problems and having concrete data is easier to get by focusing more on
refeeding syndrome where relapse and readmission for Anorexia can be based on a number of
different things out of the control of the hospital which is harder to get solid evidence to support
a claim made.
Operational Definitions:
Things out of the control of the hospital: These can include, access to food, support systems at
home, school environment, access to therapist, ect. Things that the hospital can help with, but
can ultimately do nothing about.
Malnourished Patients: People who have not received enough food for a long enough time that
their bodies start to perform functions using what is already in the body i.e. fat and muscle

Research Design:
The form of research being conducted will be interviews. Interviewees will include
dieticians, psychologists, psychiatrists all specializing in eating disorders, and a former patient in
Anorexia treatment facilities. Questions will be asked about their methods for treatment as well
as relapse and refeeding syndrome.
Product Overview:
The final product of this research will be in the form of a presentation. The indented
audience will be people who do not know much information about Anorexia Treatment, but want
to know more. The presentation will be on a display board, in order for the audience to critique
my board, forms will be given to evaluate my board as well as my presentation.

Logistical Considerations:
In order for the research to be done, professionals must be willing to be interviewed.
Professionals need to be contacted and found before assuming an interview with them.