What Are Eating Disorders?
Common eating disorders in children and adolescents include:
- Anorexia Nervosa: restricting food intake and intense fear of weight gain
- Bulimia Nervosa: cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting or excessive exercise
- Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): limited eating due to sensory concerns, fear of adverse consequences, or lack of interest in food, without concerns about weight or shape
- Binge Eating Disorder: recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of food accompanied by feelings of loss of control
Visiting the Eating Disorders Clinic doesn’t mean you have an eating disorder — it means you’re seeking support for your well-being.
A Multidisciplinary Team Approach
Recovery from an eating disorder requires coordinated, multidisciplinary care. At Le Bonheur, our multidisciplinary team works together to meet each child’s unique medical, nutritional, and emotional needs:
- Medical Providers (MDs) – monitor physical health, address complications, and guide safe nutritional rehabilitation
- Psychologists – provide evidence-based therapy to help children and families develop healthier coping strategies and address underlying concerns
- Registered Dietitians (RDs) – create individualized nutrition plans to restore balance and reduce anxiety around food
- Occupational Therapists (OTs) – support sensory processing, motor skills and mealtime routines that can make eating less stressful
This integrated care ensures that each child receives comprehensive support, not only for their physical health but also for their emotional and developmental well-being.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
The first outpatient appointment typically lasts 2 to 3 hours. During this visit, your child and family will meet with several members of our multidisciplinary team. Together, we will:
- Review your child’s medical history and current health
- Assess eating patterns, nutrition and growth
- Explore emotional and behavioral concerns
- Identify family needs and supports
- Obtain labs and/or an electrocardiogram (EKG) if needed
- Admission to Le Bonheur if the patient is not medically stable for outpatient care
By the end of the first visit, you will leave with an initial care plan tailored to your child’s needs and clear next steps for treatment.
Family-Centered Care
We believe families are essential partners in recovery. Parents and caregivers are actively involved in treatment planning and skill-building, so they feel empowered to support their child’s progress outside of clinic visits.
Meet the Team
Physicians:
- Michelle Bowden, MD
- Melanie Ramos, MD
Nurse Practitioners:
-
Danielle Bell, DNP, PNP-PC
Psychologists:
-
Adrienne Arrindell, PhD
Registered Dietitians:
- Brigid Kay, RD
- Monica Porter, MA, RD, LDN
Registered Nurses:
-
Shelby Jackson, RN
Occupational Therapists:
- Rachel Greer, OT
- Serena Khiantani, OT
Clinic Locations:
The Eating Disorder Clinic is currently available at the following locations:
- Le Bonheur Children's Hospital - Parking is available in the parking garage on North Manassas Street or in the hospital parking lot on Adams Avenue (more details here).
- Le Bonheur Outpatient Rehabilitation - East Memphis, 2nd floor
