Edited by: Michael Kohn, FRACP, FACPM and Neville H. Golden, MD
Early publications on eating disorders were on the medical and nutritional care for young women with anorexia nervosa in the nineteenth century. Since that time there have been major advances in the science of starvation and physical health restoration but practice can vary and consensus can be elusive. We have also learned that individuals with eating disorders (both men and women) can demonstrate the physical and psychological effects of malnutrition even at a normal or above normal weight. There is not a shared understanding of the physiological changes in starvation nor optimal strategy to best manage malnutrition for patients with anorexia nervosa. Whilst there are Centres with established refeeding practices lead by clinicians of considerable experience, research is needed to address questions such as how best to provide nutrition, including nutrients (calories and micronutrients/supplements) as well as refeeding strategies and the management of early medical complications. In this special issue in Journal of Eating Disorders, we include papers that address management of the malnourished patient with an eating disorder across the weight and age spectrum.