AMA releases online physician resource on eating disorders

The American Medical Association (AMA) has released an online training module to help primary care physicians better screen for and manage eating disorders. According to the Academy for Eating Disorders, about one in 20 young women in the community has an eating disorder, and many more people may engage in unhealthy eating behaviors that may damage their physical and psychological health.

“Physicians are dedicated to providing the best possible care to their patients, and for primary care physicians, that often means being prepared to manage both mental and physical health issues,” said AMA President Peter W. Carmel, M.D. “In treating eating disorders, early intervention and communication has proven highly effective in combating these diseases. This resource will help primary care physicians better identify, treat and manage these serious mental illnesses.”

Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder can cause serious and sometimes life-threatening consequences that impact a patient’s mental and physical health. Early intervention leads to better health outcomes and a reduced duration of the eating disorder.

This activity, Screening and Managing Eating Disorders in Primary Practice, is a part of the AMA’s Educating Physicians on Controversies and Challenges in Health (EPoCH) program. It provides a basic diagnostic overview of the range of eating disorders, reviews the screening and referral process and briefly describes the role of the primary care physician in treating patients with eating disorders.

This activity has been certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit TM. To view the activity, visit https://www.ama-cmeonline.com/eating_disorders/.