Intensive outpatient treatment is appropriate for individuals who need some structure from health professionals in order to refrain from abnormal behaviors and work toward feeling more at peace with themselves. As an example of intensive outpatient treatment, evening programs offering supervised dinner followed by group therapy are often helpful to those who work or go to school during the day. In addition to attending a structured program, the individual in intensive outpatient care meets with the various members of her treatment team, which may include a psychotherapist, a psychopharmacologist, a primary care physician, and a registered dietician.

Generally, individuals stay at the intensive outpatient level for a couple of weeks to a few months. As they move beyond the need for staff support during meals and snacks, they will continue to require management and monitoring on an outpatient basis. With further progress, they can begin to meet with the members of their professional team less frequently. Some individuals with anorexia nervosa may need outpatient psychotherapy for years.