McMaster Children's Hospital is the Regional Centre for Pediatric Eating Disorders for Central South. Our program provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary assessment for all new patients with eating problems. We see a range of eating problems from classic anorexia nervosa to extreme selective eating. Families and care-givers are integral to the treatment process. We primarily offer family- based treatment (FBT) informed by the Maudsley Model.

The program was established 10 years ago and we assess over 100 new patients per year. We have the largest out-patient eating disorder program in Ontario.

We provide care to children and adolescents with eating disorders in a variety of settings including:

In-patient
Out-patient
Day-treament - planned start date Spring 2012

Who we see

Our program offers assessments to children and adolescents up to the age of 18. There is no lower age limit.

Geographical Catchments Area

We are currently the Regional Centre for Paediatric Eating Disorders for LHIN #4 (Hamilton, Brant, Niagara, Haldimand, Norfolk)

Exceptions made on an individual basis for children under 13 or those who come from underserved areas or who have additional medical illnesses.

Interdisciplinary Team

We have a large team with many different specialists who have a lot of experience working with teenagers. Our team includes pediatricians, a psychiatrist, psychologists, social workers, nurses, dietitian, child life specialist and physiotherapist. We also have students and doctors in training who work with us under supervision.

For a list of our team members and their roles on the team, click here.

Treatments Offered:

Family Based Treatment (FBT) is the first line treatment offered most commonly.

Additional available treatments offered by our program:

Individual therapy
CBT
DBT
Out-patient treatment
Day-treatment
In-patient admission

Body Image and Anxiety Groups click here for details

Training and Research

Current focus on program development, evaluation and patient and family satisfaction measures
Objectives of the research program are to better understand the nature and effects of treatment provided to patients, associated outcomes, differential prognosis, and patient satisfaction with the program.

How to make a referral:

A referral is required from a physician. Some blood work and an electrocardiogram (EKG) must to be completed in order for the assessment to proceed.

We recommend that the child or adolescent with a suspected eating problem has close follow-up with their physician while waiting for their assessment in our clinic.

A copy of the referral form is available here.

Our clinical coordinator, Cheryl Webb, can be reached at 905-521-2100 X: 73497
Completed referrals should be faxed to: 905-521-2349

Eating Disorder Resources for patients and their families

Eating Disorder Resources for Physicians