Treatment of atypical anorexia nervosa in the public school: an autistic girl.

A public school team treated one autistic girl who would not eat. They used tiny, step-by-step food exposures at lunch.

The plan was written like a desensitization script you might use for a dentist visit. Staff moved from just looking at food to tasting it.

The girl began eating school lunch after a few weeks. She kept the weight she had lost off.

The authors warn the win came only after many meetings and outside expert help. Teachers alone did not have the skill set.

Castaño Novoa et al. (2024) later used the same desensitization idea in a dental clinic. Autistic adults learned to sit for cleanings without sedation. This shows the trick works past the lunchroom.

Pimentel Júnior et al. (2024) reviewed 32 papers and found most dentists still skip desensitization. The 1980 case proves schools can do it, yet the 2024 review says clinics rarely try.

Leng et al. (2024) asked clinicians about autism-friendly eating-disorder care. They wanted clearer guides. The 1980 study gives one clear guide: tiny food steps, daily, with a BCBA on speed-dial.

If a student stops eating at school, you can start a graded exposure plan tomorrow. Write 5 bite-sized steps, track acceptance, and call in a feeding-trained BCBA before the problem grows. The 1980 case shows the tactic works; the 2024 reviews show most teams still do not use it. Be the exception.