Weighing Practices in the early stages of inpatient treatment for Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa

INTERVENTION: "Open weighing”: Patients are individually weighed in their underwear by a nurse twice weekly for four weeks. Weighing takes place in the morning in front of the nurses station before patients have breakfast. The outcome is communicated clearly to the patient in form of an actual weight (not simply "up", "down", or "OK"). The patient's weight is then overtly discussed between the patient and treating team (e.g., dieticians, psychologists, psychiatrists) and this information is used as a part of treatment. For example, dieticians may make changes to the patient's meal plan depending on weight gain/loss and psychologist may discuss weight in the context of cognitive behavioural therapy sessions. Patients are asked to complete outcome measure questionnaires directly before and after being weighed. CONDITION: Anorexia Nervosa Bulimia Nervosa PRIMARY OUTCOME: Mean anxiety reactions to being weighed as assessed by 100mm Visual Analogue Scales (4 questions; e.g., How anxious are you about being weighed right now?) SECONDARY OUTCOME: Meal completion. Patients who refuse or cannot complete a meal or snack are required to drink a liquid meal supplement (e.g., Ensure) of equal caloric content. The quantity of liquid meal supplement required (this is always equivalent to the amount of food left on the plate) is recorded by nurses and will be used to assess meal non compliance. Mean body and weight preoccupations as assessed by the Eating Disorder‐15 Mean tolerance of uncertainty scores as assessed by the Intolerance of Uncertainty scale Rate of weight gain. Participants are weighed by registered nurses using calibrated digital scales Treatment motivation as assessed by 100mm Visual Analogue Scales (3 questions; e.g., How motivated do you feel right now to engage with your treatment?) INCLUSION CRITERIA: Females, 16 years and over. Newly admitted patients to Wesley Hospital Ashfield, diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa and/or Bulimia Nervosa.