Our Approach to Eating Disorders

At Children’s Hospital Colorado, children, teens and families are at the center of our care. We help minimize time away from home and school by empowering parents and caregivers to continue the care outside of the hospital setting. 

We understand that eating disorders involve both physical and mental health. Our comprehensive approach addresses all of these factors while supporting families through recovery and all stages of care. We ensure parents, caregivers and children feel confident continuing their progress after our care. 

Eating disorder treatment options that fit your child’s needs 

Whether your child needs structured daily treatment or outpatient care, we offer two options to support families through eating disorder treatment. Our care team creates an individual treatment plan with your family in one of our programs: 

• Day Treatment Program: Located on Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, this program is designed for children and families who need intensive support but do not need 24-hour care. Our specialized care team helps patients and families develop healthy coping skills and establish healthy eating patterns through parent-supported nutrition.   
• Eating Disorder Outpatient Program: When appropriate, we offer specialized outpatient therapy for eating disorders. Our outpatient care includes individual, family and group therapy and medication management, if needed.  

How we help your child 

Our approach to care is personalized to meet each child’s unique needs. Across all levels of treatment, we empower parents to effectively supervise mealtimes and plan meals that meet their child’s medical and nutritional needs. Working closely with our dietitians, parents lead food choices, which helps children understand that family provides meals, not program staff. 

In the Day Treatment Program, the care team individualizes goals for each child and family. Gradually, children and families spend more time at home as they become confident in the skills learned through the program. This approach ensures children and families receive comprehensive care from the beginning and progress to outpatient support at the end of the program. 

We carefully monitor progress in several areas: 

• Medical and physical: Growth, weight stabilization and overall health improvements 
• Behavioral: Reduction or elimination of eating disorder-driven behaviors 
• Emotional and cognitive: Developing healthier coping mechanisms, increasing resilience and gradually returning to age-appropriate activities 
• Parental empowerment: Parents setting limits and expectations around their children’s eating at home 

Why a family-centered approach is important for care 

At Children’s Colorado, families are not just participants — they are key contributors to their child’s recovery. Decades of research shows that family involvement is crucial to successful eating disorder treatment. Groundbreaking approaches such as the family-based treatment (FBT) model have shown that empowering families to take an active role in recovery leads to better outcomes. This model of care helps parents and caregivers interrupt their child’s unhealthy behaviors and promote healthy habits.  

We focus on helping families navigate challenges, understand that food is medicine and provide supervision around mealtimes. By the time families transition to outpatient support, parents feel confident in continuing progress at home. By prioritizing family involvement, our program creates a sustainable and supportive path toward recovery together.

How will families be involved? 

In our programs, taking charge of daily nutrition is an essential first step for parents. Across our care options, including the outpatient clinic, parents work with the care team to learn skills such as supervising meals, planning balanced diets and effectively disrupting eating disorder behaviors. Clinical team members also coach patients and families through difficult emotions to build resilience and strengthen recovery.   

In the Day Treatment Program, this process is more intensive and empowers parents as they work closely with a dietitian. Parents and caregivers learn meal planning during the first week of treatment and writing individualized meal plans throughout recovery. We know participation in the Day Treatment Program is a commitment and an adjustment for families, and we help make this transition as smooth as possible. At Children’s Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus, families have access to spaces to work, eat and complete daily tasks. 

Learn more about what to expect from care

What to expect after the Eating Disorders Program 

Our team makes your next step as smooth as possible — whether that’s a different level of care or leaving medical care.  

If you’re leaving our day treatment, we often recommend moving to outpatient care and use a step-down model to prepare your family. This allows you to continue mastering skills you’ve learned for managing nutrition. 

When families leave outpatient care, we make sure you feel confident managing meal plans, mealtimes and the emotions of this journey. Since returning to school is a big part of your child’s day-to-day recovery, a dedicated specialist will help your family make this transition. Support may include coordinating meal and snack times and arranging supervision as needed. 

Contact the Eating Disorders Program   

To schedule an appointment, call 720-777-6200. Our team will guide you through the assessment and admissions process.  

Learn more about scheduling an appointment