Can a Nutritionist Help with Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders are persistent behavior changes that negatively affect mental status and eating behaviors. The National Eating Disorders Association (NDEA) reports that 28.8 million Americans will suffer from an eating disorder in their lifetime. 

Early intervention may decrease the risk of longer durations of illness and improve quality of life. After a diagnosis of an eating disorder, a healthcare team that includes the primary care provider, a psychologist/therapist, a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), and caregivers partner to develop a compassionate and evidence-based approach. An RDN is essential to the treatment team. 

In this article, you’ll learn how an RDN can help with eating disorders, the benefits and what to expect when working with one, and some strategies for promoting healthy eating habits. 

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Can a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Help with Eating Disorders?

RDNs are healthcare professionals trained in all aspects of food, the body, and nutrition. RDNs provide nutrition therapy or counseling for someone undergoing treatment for an eating disorder.

RDNs provide compassionate, honest, and practical steps for a person with an eating disorder to move forward toward a healthy relationship with food. They can help educate on how to fuel the body with all types of foods. RDNs can share recommendations related to vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients like carbohydrates, fats, and protein for the body to thrive.

They work as part of the healthcare team for a person recovering from an eating disorder. Each team member works together to address all aspects of the eating disorder.

Benefits of Working with a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for Eating Disorders 

Registered dietitian nutritionists have rigorous education standards.

A four-year degree with a specially designed nutrition curriculum is required. RDNs take courses on metabolism, biology, chemistry, health conditions, how they relate to food, counseling, interpreting clinical research, and nutrition. They also complete 1,200 hours of supervised practice before taking a rigorous exam to become a dietitian. To keep their credential, they must complete ongoing training and education of at least 75 continuing education credits every 5 years.

Many RDNs get advanced training in eating disorder treatment.

Look for the International Association Of Eating Disorders Professionals Foundation certification labeled as CEDS, CEDRD, or CEDRDN. This certification requires 2,500 supervised practice hours treating eating disorders and an exam. As you seek help from an RDN, ask questions about their experience with eating disorders and their approach or style. 

Ways a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Can Help With Eating Disorders 

An RDN can separate fact from fiction regarding nutrition and foods. While you may have access to unlimited information sources on a smartphone or computer, much of this information is questionable and often does not promote a healthy relationship with food.  

RDNs use evidence-based research to support their eating plans, education materials, and behavioral methods for helping people make lifestyle changes. This can help individuals recovering from eating disorders distinguish between false thoughts about food and their bodies and the truth to achieve remission. 

An RDN can educate on hunger and fullness cues, typical meal spacing, metabolism, and safe, healthy weight gain if needed. They customize the nutrition counseling specific to a person’s needs. 

What to Expect When Working with a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

It is important to know what to expect when working with an RDN. The severity of the eating disorder will determine the next steps. The NDEA recommends eating disorder treatment by following the following steps:

1. Address life-threatening medical or mental symptoms.
2. Stop unhealthy eating disorder behaviors such as food restriction, binge eating, purging, or excessive exercise.
3. Develop healthy eating habits and nutrition rebuilding.
4. Challenge harmful thoughts and actions.
5. Address ongoing medical and mental health.
6. Develop a plan to prevent relapse.

An RDN will help with all of these steps. For example, gaining a small amount of weight weekly stabilizes heart health if in a life-threatening state. An RDN can help someone gain weight while considering their food preferences and nutrition needs. 

An RDN is critical in developing healthy eating habits and rebuilding nutrition stores. A medical nutrition therapy visit can be virtual or face-to-face. Visits will include reviewing your health history, medications, typical lifestyle, diet, and information from your eating disorder care team.

Individuals can accomplish a healthy relationship with food through many different solutions. An RDN will partner with you to create an individualized eating plan. After each session, you try the plan and provide feedback on what went well and what was challenging. 

The eating plan is changed based on your response and needs. You may work with an RDN for several months or longer. The frequency of visits usually lessens as you develop a stronger, healthy relationship with food. 

An RDN  will use creative and compassionate strategies to help you develop peace with food and eating. 

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Meal Planning Tips for Eating Disorder Recovery

A key feature of eating disorder recovery is meal planning. An RDN will help you to create a meal plan detailing how often to eat and what foods to pair together. Meal planning allows you to have success with a new eating style. 

Meal planning can be overwhelming, but here are some simple tips to get you started. 

Planning can help reduce stress around meals and eating.

Consider planning for one week at a time. This means less time thinking about food and less time at the grocery store. You may need support from friends and family with grocery shopping or cooking. For stressful or busy days, you might keep pre-packaged meals and snacks on hand.

Meal planning helps provide a sense of control.

You can mentally prepare for the problematic foods to incorporate into the eating plan. Planning can reduce decision fatigue, which happens when you tire from too many decisions. Change is hard; anticipating a planned change makes it more manageable.

Meal planning helps you to meet nutrition and health goals. 

Planning for a week at a time helps you eat various foods and nutrients for your body to thrive. Consider two to three options for each meal and use leftovers for lunch or dinner to reduce time, food waste, and save money. Keep balanced snack options at home like nuts and fruit, cheese and vegetables, or crackers, meat, and cheese. 

Other Strategies to Promote Healthful Eating Habits

Your eating disorder care team will provide specific strategies to promote healthful eating. Some examples include:

• Mindful eating: being aware and present when eating foods and drinks.

• Identifying triggers or times when you are tempted to return to past eating habits. Knowing your triggers can help you seek support and alternative activities. 

• Stress-relieving activities like yoga, stretching, walks, music, or volunteering.

• Support from family and friends.

• Limiting negative influences such as other people struggling with eating disorders or social media promoting unhealthful eating habits. 

Takeaways

It takes courage to seek out help for an eating disorder. A registered dietitian nutritionist is uniquely trained to partner with you on your path to a healthy relationship with food. Many have advanced training in eating disorders. 

An RDN works with your care team to stabilize your nutrition status, help replenish the body with nutrients, develop healthy eating behaviors, and create a customized eating and meal plan, along with a plan to prevent relapse. 

How a Dietitian Can Help

Partner with a compassionate eating disorder professional. Registered dietitians nutritionists are an integral part of your care team as you start treatment and move into recovery.

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FAQs

1. What profession helps people with eating disorders?

Registered dietitian nutritionists, primary care providers, therapists, and psychologists help people with eating disorders. Other health professionals, such as physical therapists and pharmacists, can assist. 

2. What qualifications do you need to help people with eating disorders?

Look for a registered dietitian nutritionist. This credential certifies they have met the national criteria to care for patients and their medical and nutrition needs. Dietitians can also get advanced eating disorder training with CEDS, CEDRD, or CEDRDN certifications.

3. Can people with anorexia see a registered dietitian nutritionist?

People with anorexia can and would see significant health benefits from seeing an RDN. Often individuals with anorexia are malnourished and need assistance building their nutrition stores back and learning to separate fact from fiction regarding nutrition, food, and their body.