Eating-disorder care in Belgium: reimbursement

Overview

Getting oriented

Guide to the different levels of eating disorder care available in Belgium for children, adolescents, young adults and the professionals who support them.

This page provides a practical map of the Belgian 0–23 pathway, the right regional network to contact, and when a reference centre or adult care route becomes relevant.

Who is eligible and how does referral work?

This table summarises the main referral entry points, care levels, and follow-up options.

Situation	Who refers	Care level	Next step
Child, adolescent, or young adult (0–23) with suspected or confirmed eating disorder	GP, paediatrician, psychologist, specialised dietitian	Specialised consultations + SMEA/GGKJ network if needed	Coordinated outpatient care, regional reinforcement, or reference centre depending on evolution
Complex or severe presentation	Outpatient team or regional network	Reference centre, day programme, or hospitalisation	Step-down coordination back to local outpatient care
Adult 24+	GP or specialised team	Case-by-case referral to specialised outpatient or hospital care	Medical, psychological, and dietetic coordination tailored to severity

Networks

Networks & services

List of reference centres and SMEA networks.

Reference centres

Centre de Référence Académique de Bruxelles pour les TCA (CRAB - TCA) - La Ramée/Saint-Luc
- 0 à 13 ans : Centre Atacama — Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc
- 13 à 24 ans : Clinique La Ramée, Epsylon
Clinique des troubles des conduites alimentaires au CHC MontLégia
Centre de Référence Suprarégional des Troubles Alimentaires - Centre Hospitalier Le Domaine
Centre de Référence Supra-Régional pour les Troubles du comportement alimentaire (TCA) chez les jeunes - HUB Bruxelles (Erasme et HUDERF)
Eetkliniek van het UZ Brussel
ZAS UKJA (Anvers) — Referentiecentrum Eetstoornissen
Eetherstel (Alexianen Tienen)
Referentiecentrum Eetstoornissen (UPC KU Leuven)
Referentiecentrum voor eetstoornissen (UZ Gent)

Choose a region

See the full list of networks

Indicative list from the SMEA networks. Check each site for up-to-date information.

BRU-STARS — Brussels. BRU-STARS is the SMEA network for Brussels. It coordinates guidance, information, and local resources for children and adolescents.
ARCHIPEL — Walloon Brabant. ARCHIPEL is the SMEA network for Walloon Brabant. It coordinates guidance, information, and local resources for children and adolescents.
RHESEAU — Hainaut. RHESEAU is the SMEA network for Hainaut. It coordinates guidance, information, and local resources for children and adolescents.
KIRIKOU — Namur. KIRIKOU is the SMEA network for Namur. It coordinates guidance, information, and local resources for children and adolescents.
REALISM — Liege. REALISM is the SMEA network for Liege. It coordinates guidance, information, and local resources for children and adolescents.
MATILDA — Luxembourg. MATILDA is the SMEA network for Luxembourg. It coordinates guidance, information, and local resources for children and adolescents.
YUNECO — Flemish Brabant. YUNECO is the SMEA network for Flemish Brabant. It coordinates guidance, information, and local resources for children and adolescents.
LIGANT — Limburg. LIGANT is the SMEA network for Limburg. It coordinates guidance, information, and local resources for children and adolescents.
PANGG — Antwerp. PANGG is the SMEA network for Antwerp. It coordinates guidance, information, and local resources for children and adolescents.
RADAR — East Flanders. RADAR is the SMEA network for East Flanders. It coordinates guidance, information, and local resources for children and adolescents.
WINGG — West Flanders. WINGG is the SMEA network for West Flanders. It coordinates guidance, information, and local resources for children and adolescents.

Share and refer

A resource for families and professionals

For families and patients

This page helps people understand who to contact, even when they do not yet know where to start.

It makes it easier to identify the SMEA network linked to the person’s region.
It summarises the levels of care, from consultations to reference centres.
It can be used before a first appointment, after hospital care, or when different professionals need a common orientation tool.
It also explains what to do for adults aged 24+ when there is no specific pathway.

For professionals and networks

This page can be used as a referral, coordination, or communication support.

GPs, psychologists, dietitians, schools, youth services, social workers, and health insurance funds (mutualities) can rely on it.
It gathers reference centres, levels of care, and the 0–23 reimbursed pathway in one place.
It is suitable for newsletters, resource pages, news posts, or partner areas.

Pathway diagram

Levels of care

We start with first-line care, then SMEA networks reinforce follow-up if needed, before reference centres for complex situations.

Consultation-based care (1st line)

Appointments with a clear, tailored plan.

A multidisciplinary consultation bringing together a GP, a psychologist, and a specialised dietitian.

Reinforced follow-up via SMEA networks (2nd line)

Reinforcement and support for consultation-based care.

If needed, consultations can be complemented by other supports (groups, TMF, …).

Specialised reference centres (3rd line)

Severe or complex situations.

Access to a specialised team for complex situations.

24+

For ages 24+

For adults, there is no specific care pathway. If in doubt:

Make an appointment with your GP to talk it through and be referred if needed (for example to a psychiatrist).
Make an appointment with a psychologist and a dietitian specialised in eating disorders.
Specialised inpatient care also exists for adults when the situation requires it.

In a life-threatening emergency, go to the emergency department.

Adult pathway (24+)

There is no dedicated Belgian eating-disorder pathway equivalent to the 0–23 programme.
The GP remains the simplest starting point to organise assessment and referral.
Specialised outpatient care may be combined with partial or full hospital care when clinically needed.

Useful distribution

When to share this page

This page is worth sharing when…

When to share this page

a family needs to know quickly where to turn in Belgium ;
a young person is already receiving care but the local network remains unclear ;
a professional wants to refer without rebuilding the whole care map ;
a school, association, or health insurance fund (mutuality) wants to publish a reliable orientation resource.

How to refer in practice

In practice, referral can follow this simple path:

1. Review the situation with the GP, paediatrician, or another trusted first-line professional.
2. Arrange a specialised consultation with a psychologist and/or a dietitian specialised in eating disorders.
3. Identify the regional SMEA/GGKJ network to strengthen care for ages 0–23.
4. Turn to a reference centre when the situation is severe, complex, or needs supra-regional expertise.

Key takeaways

Start with a consultation to set a clear plan.
SMEA networks reinforce care when needed.
Reference centres support complex situations.
If unsure, asking for guidance is the first step.

Shareable resources

Download one of the four website PDF guides to share with a family, network, school, or partner.

Guide PDF — Parcours de soins TCA en Belgique — Français — 2 pages
Two-page website PDF guide designed for sharing while pointing back to the up-to-date HTML page.
PDF-gids — Zorgtraject eetstoornissen in België — Nederlands — 2 pagina's
Two-page website PDF guide designed for sharing while pointing back to the up-to-date HTML page.
PDF guide — Eating disorder care pathways in Belgium — English — 2 pages
Two-page website PDF guide designed for sharing while pointing back to the up-to-date HTML page.
Guida PDF — Percorsi di cura DCA in Belgio — Italiano — 2 pagine
Two-page website PDF guide designed for sharing while pointing back to the up-to-date HTML page.

Each PDF brochure points back to the canonical care-pathways page so the information can stay current and easy to share.

Official sources

What is this page for?

This page provides a clear overview of eating-disorder care pathways in Belgium. It helps families and professionals understand the levels of care, identify the most relevant network or reference centre, and find practical downloadable brochures that are easy to share.

Understand how the Belgian care pathway is structured.
Identify the most relevant network, centre, or level of care.
Download practical brochures to share in French, Dutch, English, or Italian.

The downloadable brochures are designed to support referrals, coordination, and family orientation.

FAQ

FAQ on referral and reimbursement

Short answers to help families and professionals navigate the right level of care in Belgium.

Does the Belgian eating-disorder pathway cover the whole country?

Yes. It is organised through regional SMEA/GGKJ networks and Belgian reference centres.

Do I need a complete diagnosis before contacting a network?

No. A well-grounded clinical concern is enough to request orientation and clarify the right next steps.

Who can activate and prescribe the Belgian 0–23 eating-disorder pathway?

The pathway is activated and followed by a treating physician. Depending on the situation, this may be a GP, paediatrician, psychiatrist, child psychiatrist, or internist. Reimbursed dietetic sessions start after activation and on prescription from the treating physician.

Why offer downloadable PDF guides?

They give partners a concise handout while pointing back to the canonical HTML page that stays updated.