A key component to eating disorder treatment is developing and monitoring a nutrition plan. Nutritional deficiencies are common in people with eating disorders. Lack of nutrients from food restriction and electrolyte imbalances from purging and dehydration are serious complications that can be life-threatening if not remedied. A registered dietitian (RD) is an essential member of the treatment team and is responsible for guiding patients and their families through the weight and nutrition restoration process.

What is a Registered Dietitian?

A RD is a professional who completes training to become an expert in all things nutrition. Once schooling is complete, a RD may work in hospitals, long term care centers, community-based programs, or independently in private practice settings. At Center for Discovery, each center employs a RD to oversee nutritional standards and work with each patient directly on individual meal planning needs.

The Importance of Nutrition in Eating Disorder Treatment

A person who presents with an eating disorder at any level of care is going to need comprehensive guidance and a safe place in which to heal. Each type of eating disorder will require a different nutritional approach, and patients along the eating disorder spectrum will have different fears and medical complications to work around.

  • Anorexia Nervosa: Often, patients with anorexia are terrified to gain weight. There may be a lot of resistance to adding food to the meal plan, using supplements to aid in weight restoration, or requests to try different foods. People with anorexia usually have significant weight to gain and also struggle with medical complications like bone loss, menstrual irregularities, cardiac problems, and risk of refeeding syndrome (characterized by a drop in blood phosphorus levels). The RD would work with this patient to add nutrition that facilitates slow, safe weight gain.
  • Bulimia Nervosa: The binge-purge cycle characteristic of bulimia can wreak havoc on the body. Patients with bulimia will often exhibit dangerous electrolyte abnormalities due to dehydration and rapid loss of nutrients through purging. In this case a RD would work closely with the patient to get reacquainted with hunger and fullness cues and work on a new approach to normal eating patterns and healthy portions.
  • Binge Eating Disorder: Binge eating disorder is characterized by periods of binging without the compensatory behaviors present in bulimia. People with binge eating disorder may need help identifying and mitigating the triggers that lead to a binge, as well as support to normalize eating patterns and learn how to eat intuitively.

Nutrition is an Essential Component for Healing

While all RDs are trained in the science of nutrition, not all specialize in eating disorders. It is extremely important to find a RD who knows the special nutrition needs of people with eating disorders and can help these patient enter recovery safely. If you or a loved one may be struggling with disordered eating habits, please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our caring counselors at Center for Discovery.

We offer compassionate support and personalized solutions. Our CARE-CFD model helps you incorporate nourishment, satisfaction, food flexibility and collaboration with experts into your daily meals. CARE stands for “consistent attuned relational eating.” It’s a steady, adaptable program that’s designed to fit your specific schedule and events that arise.

Here’s what the CARE-CFD Model embraces:

  • Trauma-focused nutrition therapy
  • Collaboration between you and the care team
  • Responsive to the whole body, including being in tune with the nervous system
  • Weight inclusivity

Believe it or not, you’ve always had the power within yourself to overcome life’s challenges. We’re here to help you learn how to lead a happier, healthier, more authentic life. Plus, you’re never alone on your journey to well-being when you’re with us. Once you complete treatment, you’ll have free access to Discovery365™, our exclusive AI-powered app that uses breakthrough technology to intervene when you need extra support. Contact us today!