Advancements in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents: Challenges, Progress, and Future Directions.

Eating disorders (EDs) in children and adolescents pose significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to their early onset, developmental complexity, and frequent psychiatric comorbidities. This narrative review identifies key clinical and systemic challenges, including difficulties in early detection, overlapping symptomatology, limited pharmacological options, and unequal access to specialized care. Recent progress includes revisions in diagnostic criteria (e.g., DSM-5 and ICD-11), advancements in psychometric assessment tools tailored for pediatric populations, and increasing evidence supporting psychotherapeutic interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy, family-based therapy, and digital health approaches. Future directions involve long-term outcome studies on treatment efficacy, developing culturally sensitive and personalized care models, and implementing integrated multidisciplinary treatment frameworks. By synthesizing empirical literature from 2018 to 2024, this review underscores the urgent need for developmentally informed, evidence-based strategies to enhance the early detection, treatment, and recovery outcomes for young individuals affected by EDs.