Dietitians as Allies in Eating Disorder Recovery
Written By Julia Baker, MPH-RD
July 26, 2024
Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that impact both your mental and
physical health. If you’re exploring treatment options for the first time, it can be daunting to know
where to begin. Let’s start by identifying the key members of a comprehensive treatment team:
a therapist, a dietitian, a medical provider, and often a psychiatrist. Each plays an essential role
in addressing both the underlying causes and the immediate effects of the eating disorder.
An Individualized Approach
You may already be familiar with medical providers like pediatricians or primary care physicians,
but working with a dietitian, especially one specialized in eating disorders, might be a new
experience for you. So, what can you expect from this type of specialist? Dietitians have an
extensive understanding of nutrition science and are specially trained to tackle the challenges
associated with eating disorders. They evaluate malnutrition, understand the biochemical
impacts of inadequate nutrition, and develop creative, effective strategies for helping clients
meet their nutritional needs. This expertise is vital because nutritional rehabilitation is the
cornerstone of psychological recovery.
When a dietitian joins your treatment team, they begin with a thorough nutritional assessment to
identify your specific needs and challenges. From this assessment, they work alongside you to
create a treatment plan, which includes a personalized meal plan that aligns with your nutritional
needs, food preferences, lifestyle, and any health conditions you may have. This individualized
approach to nutrition is supportive of long-term recovery.
More Than Meal Plans
But dietitians do more than create meal plans; they are uniquely positioned to challenge
nutrition myths perpetuated by diet culture and social media. They offer nutrition education
grounded in science, providing evidence-based information on how different eating patterns
affect the body. They also debunk common misconceptions promoted by fad diets and wellness
influencers. This re-education is essential for developing a healthier relationship with food – one
that is rooted in knowledge rather than fear.
Dietitians also address the underlying beliefs about food and your body that fuel your eating
disorder. They work closely with you to uncover and understand these beliefs, which often keep
you stuck in unhealthy patterns. As you identify your “fear foods,” dietitians guide you in
gradually reintroducing them, easing anxiety around eating. They also help you develop healthy
coping skills for triggers that might otherwise lead to disordered eating behaviors. For example,
if eating out at a restaurant triggers significant anxiety, your dietitian can provide you with skills
to manage your anxiety in that setting so that you can enjoy eating around family and friends
again.
Fostering Body Respect
Dietitians specializing in eating disorders are also adept at helping you navigate body image
issues. Establishing a healthier relationship with your body is just as important as mending your
relationship with food. Eating disorders often impair your ability to recognize natural body
signals, such as hunger and fullness cues, disrupting your connection with your body. Dietitians
assist you in identifying when and how this disconnection started and teach you strategies to
begin healing this rupture. As you progress through nutrition rehabilitation, you’ll start to regain
these natural body cues and develop a deeper understanding of your body’s needs. Dietitians
also incorporate mindfulness techniques to improve your ability to listen to and interpret your
body’s cues, promoting a supportive dialogue between your mind and body.
Dietitians can also address body image concerns that may have developed as a result of
messages you’ve received about your body (or witnessed others receiving), experiences of
weight stigma, the pervasive “ideal body” images in diet culture and social media, and more.
They can help you uncover the roots of your negative body image beliefs and work through
these to foster new, healthier thoughts and beliefs. Learning about body respect can make it
easier to nourish your body out of respect and care, rather than from a place of control or
dissatisfaction.
Walking Alongside You
The role of dietitians in the treatment of eating disorders is both vital and multifaceted. By
offering expert nutritional guidance, personalized care, and body image support, dietitians can
be invaluable partners in your recovery journey. For anyone dealing with an eating disorder or
disordered eating, including a dietitian on your treatment team is a critical step toward rebuilding
a healthier relationship with food and your body.
