The Eating Disorders Center (EDC) at Children’s Mercy provides outpatient family-centered care for children and teens with eating disorders, including symptoms of restricting food intake, body image concerns, and behaviors intended to manage weight.

• New patients interested in team-based care must be 16 ½ years old or younger when referred to our center because our family-centered intervention approach is best for children and younger adolescents.
• Because of the types of treatments we provide, the EDC serves patients:
  • with anorexia, bulimia, and related issues to as young as 8.
  • with ARFID as young as 10.
• We also offer separate medical services for ages 10-21 for patients receiving therapy and other eating disorder services outside of Children’s Mercy.

Consultation services

A multidisciplinary consult visit is the first stop in the EDC for team-based care. A medical provider, psychologist, and social worker will meet with you to fully assess your child’s concerns and collaborate with you to make the best plan possible.

This may involve starting treatment within the EDC or providers helping you connect with other services or programs in the community that are a better match for your child’s needs. Because our approach is not a fit for everyone, we encourage you to continue working with any medical and mental health providers you already have.

For the child or young adult who only needs medical services, your first appointment will be an assessment with a physician to assess your or your child’s health and symptoms that can go along with an eating disorder.

Our care team

Our team has pediatric and adolescent specialists in medical care, therapy and nutrition. They work together with your family to care for your child.

Team members and consultants with the Eating Disorders Center include:

• Adolescent medicine medical providers
• Pediatric psychologists
• Dietitians
• Family therapists
• Psychiatrists
• Nurses
• Social workers
  
  

Family focused, collaborative care

Children’s Mercy is the only eating disorder treatment center in the Kansas City region. It focuses entirely on children, teens, and families.

Our outpatient program is in one place to provide:

• Medical care
• Family and individual therapy
• And nutrition services.

This allows for greater communication and collaboration between your family and team members.

We integrate the latest science-based approaches to create a treatment plan that meets the unique needs of your child.

Comprehensive treatment for children and teens with eating disorders

The team at the Eating Disorders Center works closely with you and with each other. We have dedicated times throughout the week for our staff members to:

• Coordinate care.
• Evaluate progress.
• Update treatment goals for each family served by our program.

Some children and teens are helped most from our Family-based Treatment (FBT) approach. This is also known as the Maudsley Method. A medical provider and FBT-trained therapist will be on each child’s care team. Additional services will be provided as needed.

Other children or teens may benefit from a treatment team that includes a medical provider, nutritionist, and psychologist who specializes in a variety of evidence-based treatments and other services as needed.

The specialists caring for your child are always working together with your child, your family, and other team members on your child’s treatment plan and progress.