Can a Dietitian Help with Disordered Eating?

Updated by: Ashley Petrie

Disordered eating describes restrictive habits that are not severe enough to be considered a diagnosable eating disorder.

However, these habits can escalate into an eating disorder without proper treatment, which can have life-threatening consequences. 

A dietitian-nutritionist specializing in disordered eating can help you understand why these habits have developed and teach you new ways to approach food and eating.

Keep reading to learn how nutrition therapy can help.

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Benefits of Working With A Disordered Eating Dietitian

Working with a dietitian who specializes in disordered eating has several benefits, including:

Personalized Nutrition Counseling 

A disordered eating dietitian will base their recommendations on your specific eating behaviors. 

For example, if you skip meals, they might suggest easy, quick options to help you eat more regularly. 

Alternatively, if you struggle with binge eating, they can offer strategies to help you manage triggers and eat a more balanced diet.

Behavioral and Emotional Support

Dietitians can help you develop healthier eating habits, overcome food-related fears, and reframe misconceptions, such as labeling certain foods as "bad." 

They can also provide emotional support by offering a safe, judgment-free space to navigate feelings of guilt or shame about food.

Collaboration with Other Health Professionals 

Dietitians often work with mental health specialists and other healthcare providers to offer a comprehensive treatment approach to address disordered eating.

This can make your treatment plan more robust and well-rounded.  

Family Education 

Dietitians can provide resources and guidance to family members who are a part of your recovery plan. 

For example, they might offer family counseling sessions to better educate your loved ones about disordered eating (what to say—what not to say) or provide practical tips for family meal planning. 

What is Disordered Eating

Disordered eating refers to a range of irregular eating behaviors that may not warrant a diagnosis of a specific eating disorder.

These behaviors can include skipping meals, obsessive calorie counting or food tracking, emotional eating, and binge eating.

While these behaviors might not meet the clinical criteria for an eating disorder, they can still negatively impact your physical and mental health.

Disordered Eating vs Eating Disorders

Disordered eating and eating disorders share similarities but are not the same.

Disordered eating includes irregular eating habits like skipping meals, binge eating, and restrictive dieting but doesn't meet the clinical criteria for a specific eating disorder.

In contrast, eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are mental health conditions that require a formal diagnosis based on the criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

These disorders can lead to life-threatening health issues, including severe malnutrition, heart problems, and organ failure.

While both disordered eating and eating disorders can cause emotional distress and affect your well-being, eating disorders often involve more profound psychological disturbances.

Disordered eating can often be managed in an outpatient setting with nutrition counseling from a specialized dietitian.

On the other hand, eating disorders usually need comprehensive treatment from a multidisciplinary team.

Disordered Eating Symptoms 

Knowing the signs and symptoms of disordered eating can help you identify if eating patterns must be addressed.

Some of these signs may include: 

• An intense focus on food, calories, and macronutrients. 
• An obsession with labeling foods as “good” or “bad.” 
• Following restrictive fad diets. 
• Being afraid to eat certain foods labeled as “unhealthy” or “junk.” 
• Feelings of guilt or shame after eating. 
• Preoccupation with weight, weight gain, and general body image. 

Many people may experience some variation of these symptoms daily.

Some may have learned these food rules by witnessing family members or friends adhere to them.

“They don’t have an eating disorder; how bad can it be to follow these rules?” 

Even though the diet industry has normalized these habits, they can be risky for long-term health in some individuals.

Eating disorders can lead to life-long health complications—anorexia nervosa has one of the highest mortality rates among all mental health disorders.

Although these rules may seem harmless, they can have a devastating prognosis.¹  

Who Develops Disordered Eating Habits? 

Disordered eating habits can develop in people of all genders, ages, and backgrounds due to a range of influences and risk factors.

Understanding who is most susceptible can help in identifying and addressing these patterns early.

People Who Use Social Media

Regardless of age, people who consume large amounts of social media with diet messaging and fad diet recommendations are at a higher risk of developing disordered eating patterns.

A 2018 study found that college women with no previous body image or eating disorder concerns were more likely to display disordered eating habits after plugging into social media platforms only one time.² 

Youth and Adolescents

Youth and adolescents are also vulnerable to overly critical nutrition messaging.

They are experiencing rapid physical growth and development, including how they view their bodies and build self-esteem.

Exposure to these narratives at a young age may influence your long term view of food and nutrition.

Not all food messaging is negative or harmful, but you may find yourself questioning some rules you followed as a child. 

A common example is feeling forced to finish everything on your plate or experiencing guilt if you find yourself hungry for a second helping.

A dietitian can help you challenge some of these learned behaviors and help you develop a new relationship with food and eating.  

Gender-Specific Messaging

The type of disordered eating messaging can vary by gender.³

• Boys and young men tend to focus on eating habits they believe will build muscle. 
• Girls and young women are more exposed to messages that promote thinness. 

These varying messages can lead to a difference in disordered eating symptoms and affect body image in unique ways for each gender.

For example, a teenage girl might become obsessed with being as thin as possible, while a teenage boy might feel self-conscious about not looking bigger with more defined muscles.

Dietitian Advice for Disordered Eating 

The nutrition recommendations you may receive from a dietitian will vary based on the type of disordered eating patterns you are experiencing.

People actively restricting their diet and eating fewer calories than recommended will receive different guidance than those who experience shame around “junk food” because they believe it will harm their health. 

Creating a Safe Space

A dietitian’s first priority will be to provide a safe space for you to talk openly. 

Many disordered eating thoughts can stem from deep-rooted fears: fear of gaining weight, fear of doing something wrong for your health, and fear of being different from societal health norms (that are usually established by the diet industry). 

Dietitians will address your fears and help you feel more comfortable and confident in breaking away from the disordered eating habits holding you back. 

Challenging Negative Food Thoughts

Once you feel safe enough to open up, a dietitian can help you identify and challenge your negative beliefs about food and body image. 

This may involve addressing black-and-white thinking, such as viewing foods as either “good” or “bad,” and replacing these thoughts with more balanced perspectives to improve your relationship with food. 

Developing Healthy Coping Strategies

Dietitians will help you find healthy ways to manage stress and emotions without engaging in disordered eating behaviors.

This might include adopting new coping mechanisms such as exercise, mindful eating, or journaling.

Setting Realistic Goals

Working with a dietitian involves setting achievable and realistic goals tailored to your specific nutritional needs.

Instead of aiming for drastic changes that may cause unnecessary stress, focus on small, manageable steps that gradually improve your disordered eating habits.

As you heal and challenge these habits, remember to be patient and extra kind to yourself.

Change is not easy, and it will take time to unlearn old habits.

You will make strides if you show up regularly and commit to following treatment recommendations from your dietitian. 

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Disordered Eating Treatment 

Treatment for disordered eating varies based on the specific behaviors and their severity.

Generally, it can be managed on an outpatient basis with the help of a primary healthcare provider, registered dietitian, or both.

Any escalation of care, such as adding specialists to the treatment team who may prescribe medications, will be made on a case-by-case basis. 

Here are some common disordered eating treatment options:

Primary Care Providers

If you're worried about disordered eating habits, your primary care provider is a good starting point.

They can offer initial guidance, assess your overall health, and provide referrals to a registered dietitian and mental health professional for more specialized support.

Nutrition Counseling

Nutrition counseling with a registered dietitian specializing in disordered eating involves addressing food-related fears, creating personalized meal plans, and helping you establish healthier eating patterns and behaviors.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be an effective treatment for disordered eating.

This type of therapy focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors related to food and body image.

CBT can help you develop healthier coping strategies and address underlying psychological issues.

Support Groups

Support groups provide a valuable space for people to connect with others facing similar challenges with disordered eating.

Sharing experiences and receiving support from peers can increase motivation and offer emotional comfort throughout the recovery process.

Bring Your Loved Ones On Board 

Studies suggest that support from family members or primary caregivers is essential for recovery.⁵

Your family members may want to help you through your healing journey but may need to learn how.

Bringing them to therapy, including nutrition appointments, or providing them with resources can help loved ones know how best to support you as you progress. 

Work With A Disordered Eating Nutritionist

Getting help from a registered dietitian should be a top priority if you are trying to address disordered eating habits.

They are expertly trained in the clinical management of disordered eating, and they can help you build a sustainable plan that will keep you healthy and happy. 

It’s easy to feel nervous or vulnerable about talking with a dietitian.

Dietitians are open-minded healthcare providers who practice in a judgment-free space and want to see you succeed in normalizing your eating habits.

Nourish Can Help 

Nourish offers remote visits, allowing you to receive disordered eating treatment from our expert dietitians from the comfort of your own home.

This flexibility ensures you have access to the nutrition advice you need regardless of your location or schedule.

Additionally, the Nourish app provides access to a variety of free resources between appointments.

You can use the app to find educational materials, nutrition tips, and meal-planning support to help you manage your eating habits effectively.

Find a dietitian near you to get started today for as little as $0—94% of our patients pay nothing out of pocket.

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