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Resources for
Primary Care Providers

Spotlight on Research

Brief Group Cognitive‐Behavioral Therapy for Non‐Underweight Eating Disorders .pdf​

Bluff, J. L. L., E. K. Daly, I. R. Bird, H. Bryce, S. Brook, and J. Beard. 2026. “ Brief Group 

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Non-Underweight Eating Disorders: Feasibility and Preliminary Effectiveness.” International Journal of Eating Disorders 59, no. 1: 146–155. 

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Key Takeaway: 

Brief, group-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-T) can be an effective and feasible treatment option for adults with non-underweight eating disorders, including binge-eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and other specified or unspecified eating disorders​​​

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How to Use This Information in Your Practice:

  1. Consider earlier referral for non-underweight patients.
    Patients who may not appear medically fragile—but who report binge eating, restrictive patterns, or significant eating-related distress—can benefit from early, structured intervention. This study supports referral even when BMI is in the normal or higher range

  2. Early change matters—monitor progress in the first month.
    Patients who showed improvement by session 4 experienced significantly better outcomes by the end of treatment. Advise RTC in 4-6 weeks after referral to reassess engagement and symptom change

  3. Use this evidence to guide referral conversations. Confidently explain to patients that:

    1. Effective treatment does not always require long-term therapy

    2. Group treatment is evidence-based and not “less than” individual care

    3. Improvement often begins early when the treatment is a good fit

  4. Use the Get Help page to suggest providers of Group CBT-T. Group CBT-T achieved meaningful reductions in eating-disorder symptoms, anxiety, and depression, with outcomes comparable to longer individual therapies.

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Referral protocol

Coming Soon

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Upcoming Education Events

February 24, 2026 1:00pm CT

"Recovery in Real Life: Bringing Care to Patients Within Their Home and Community"

Register Here: Recovery in Real Life

Presented by Equip Academy
AMA PRA Category 1 Credit - Free

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Screening Tools 

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Clinical Aids

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  • CDC Growth charts/BMI-percentile tools. CDC Growth Charts

  • Warning Signs and Symptoms ED Signs, Behaviors & Risks | NEDA

    • Quick list of common signs and symptoms that may signal a problem.

    • Appropriate for use with patients and parents.

    • Produced by National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) ​

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Family Practice Physicians 

 

Guidelines & Reviews

  • AAFP Clinical Review (2021): Eating Disorders in Primary Care—Dx & Management. Includes interview questions. AAFP+1

  • AAFP Practice Guidelines synopsis (2024) & topic collection. Access and CME for members.  AAFP+1

  • USPSTF Final Recommendation Statement for Screening. Reviewed and updated March 2022. USPSTF+1

  • APA Guideline eBook for the Treatment of Patients with Eating Disorders APA Guidelines Bundle - Eating Disorders

  • APA Guideline (2023) – summary & full guideline access. American Psychiatric Association+1

 

CME

  • AAFP 

    • “What to Say Healthcare” (weight stigma and eating disorder prevention)  -- AAFP

      • Up to 2.0 AAFP Prescribed Credits, Free

  • Mayo Clinic Talks

  • Harvard School of Public Health

  • Stanford Medicine

    • “Eating Disorders in Adolescents: Recognition and Diagnosis” 

 

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Nurse Practitioners

 

Guidelines 

CEs for NPs

  • AANP CE Opportunities, filter for Psych-Mental Health. Catalog Home - AANP

    • “Feeding and Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents”

      • 0.95 Contact Hours, $10, free for members

      • Recorded June 2025, 57 minutes

  • American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) CE eLearning Center APNA eLearning Center

    • “2055-24: Battles Beyond: Shedding Light on Veteran Eating Disorders”

      • 0.75 Contact Hours, $13

      • Recorded December 2024, 45 minutes

    • “3047-23: The Kaleidoscope of ARFID: The Colorful Clinical Presentation Designs of This Novel Eating Disorder”

      • 0.75 Contact Hours, $13

      • Recorded October 2023 , 45 minutes

    • “Motivational Interviewing: Practical Strategies for Nurses”

      • 3.5 Contact Hours, $48

      • Recorded September 2023, 3 hours 30 minutes

  • National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) CE  ce.napnap.org

    • “Feeding and Eating Disorders, Body Dysmorphic Disorder”

      • 1.5 Contact Hours, $30

      • Reviewed and updated 2025, self-paced activity

    • “Is it Just a Picky Eater, Behavioral Food Opposition or ARFID?”

      • 1.0 Contact Hours, $20

      • Created 2024, 1 hour 

  • Harvard School of Public Health

    • “Webinar: Screening, Symptom Recognition & Referral to Treatment for Eating Disorders in Pediatric Primary Care Settings” STRIPED training

      • 1-3 Category 1 CME Credits, Free

 

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Pediatricians

 

Guidelines & Reviews

 

CME 

  • AAP Institute for Healthy Childhood Weight 

    • Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents, 2025 Webinar Series AAP+1

      • Recommended webinar: Webinar 1: Mitigating Eating Disorder Risk in Children Undergoing Obesity Treatment

      • AMA PRA Category 1 Credits for each webinar course. Free

  • Harvard School of Public Health

    • Webinar: Screening, Symptom Recognition & Referral to Treatment for Eating Disorders in Pediatric Primary Care Settings

Nurse Practitioners
Pediatricians
Family Practice Physicians
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