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Nutrition Therapy for Eating Disorders
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Nutritional therapy is a critical component in the recovery from an eating disorder. Daryl specializes in the nutritional component of eating disorder treatment using a delicate balance of compassion and education to help patients recover from bulimia, anorexia and binge eating disorder. Nutritional therapy includes separating food intake and weight-related behaviors from feelings and emotional issues, discussions of food restrictions and food behaviors, self-imposed food rules, and nutritional requirements for health.
Honest understanding of current food intake and emotional associations with food is the first step in working with a dietitian. Often, food records are requested to assist in the process. This is for evaluation of current eating habits, but also to improve food choice to meet the minimal needs of the body. Communication between a client and the dietitian is a first and necessary step in developing a trusting counseling relationship. This is nutrition therapy, where honesty and caring communication about eating develop into a safe environment for recovery from eating disorders. |
Nutrition Therapy for the eating disordered patient is often challenging. This is largely due to a common symptom: fear of weight gain. For many patients, however, a great deal of progress can be made in nutrition therapy without dramatic weight gain. Nutrition Therapy improves the eating disordered patient’s relationship with food. It requires diplomacy, tact, trust building, patience, and appropriate education. The patient will be assisted in the development of healthy coping skills through the use of education and cognitive behavior therapy. The patient can then form strategies to work toward recovery.
Nutrition Therapy is vital for the treatment of Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, and Unspecified Eating Disorders. Patients in treatment receive individual counseling bi-weekly, weekly, or more often if in crisis. Meal Therapy may be utilized to help reinforce new behaviors, modify old behaviors and challenge fears about all aspects of eating. Education is also provided about nutrition, social eating, media influences, coping tools, self esteem, body image, and assertiveness.
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No. 1 Eating Disorder Risk Factor: Dieting
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Remember that dieting is not an innocuous behavior—it alters neurochemistry. In our weight-obsessed culture, it’s easy to think of dieting as no big deal. But it can have long-lasting effects. Prolonged calorie deprivation changes brain function significantly, including both the anatomy of the brain as well as the neurochemistry of the brain. Excessive exercise and purging behaviors such as self-induced vomiting also alter neurochemistry and can become quite addictive.
As a culture, we need to be forewarned about the effects that excessive dieting, exercise, and purging can have on the brain. Eating disorders very often begin before parents are even aware that their child is in danger. Wise parents caution their children against dieting practices, and role model healthy eating, normal exercise and positive body image. Boys, as well as girls, are at risk for disordered eating.
Diets may be dangerous for adults as well as children. It is estimated that twenty percent of college-aged women have some form of disordered eating and eating disorders are on the rise in middle aged women as well.
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What are the warning signs of an eating disorder?
Signs include but aren't limited to: dieting or skipping meals, talking about calories/fat in food, unusual food behaviors, rapid weight loss, feeling cold or tired, irritability, anxiousness, depression, exercising when sick or tired, using the bathroom or showering right after meals, needing reassurance frequently about weight, bloating, leg cramps, damaged hair/teeth, binge eating, sometimes body image distortion (but not always), stomach distress or constipation, preoccupation with food/cooking, difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, chest pain, heart palpitations. Eating disorders may lead to death from suicide or cardiac arrest.
What to do if someone you know has signs of an eating disorder.
1. Learn all you can about eating disorders. You may wish to contact a professional for guidance. Also there are good sites online for information. One great website is www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
2. Talk to the individual. Let them know that you are concerned about signs of disordered eating and that you care about them. Provide them with a name of a professional to contact or make an appointment for them for an assessment.
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