The Intersection of Weight Management and Eating Disorders

Current obesity guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics include earlier treatment with pharmacotherapy and bariatric surgery, when indicated, rather than the staged approaches used in the past. However, it is important to consider the implications this may have on adolescent patients at high risk of developing an eating disorder (ED). Therefore, clinicians treating patients with obesity encounter a challenge to broach the topic of obesity treatment tactfully to avoid inciting or exacerbating an underlying ED, while also following evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of obesity. This review will highlight the current treatments for overweight and obesity; review the importance of screening before, during, and after treatment; review weight stigma; help guide the clinician in assessing for EDs; and discuss areas for future research.