Predictors of Weight Restoration in a Day-Treatment Program that Supports Family-Based Treatment for Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa

Family-Based Treatment (FBT) is considered a first-line treatment for adolescents with eating disorders. The traditional outpatient model of FBT may not, however, be appropriate for adolescents requiring more intensive treatment due to severe medical complications or insufficient progress in traditional outpatient FBT. In response, efforts have been made to incorporate FBT into higher levels of care, such as day-treatment programs (DTPs), for families who need additional support. Little is known about the factors that predict weight restoration for DTPs intended to support FBT. The current study examined the ability of specific adolescent and caregiver variables to predict weight restoration at discharge for adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) enrolled in a skills-based DTP that supports FBT. Participants were 87 adolescents diagnosed with AN and their caregivers (N = 74). Body Mass Index (BMI) at baseline, percentage of Expected Body Weight (%EBW) gain within the first 4 weeks, and caregiver empowerment level at baseline were found to significantly predict weight restoration. Higher BMI at baseline and higher %EBW gained in the first 4 weeks of treatment were predictive of weight restoration, whereas lower caregiver empowerment at baseline was predictive of weight restoration. Additionally, the rate of weight gain is reported for this DTP grounded in FBT philosophy.