Family mealtime therapy helps kids overcome severe eating disorder

This study tested whether family-based therapy is better than usual care for children aged 6-12 with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), a condition where kids severely limit what they eat, leading to low weight. Researchers compared 14 sessions of specialized family therapy to standard care over 4 months, measuring weight gain and parents' confidence in feeding their child. The goal was to confirm if helping parents feel more capable at mealtimes is the key reason this therapy works.