Weight Gain
Get Medical Nutrition Therapy to Support Weight Restoration for Chronic Disease, Eating Disorders, and Disordered Eating with a Weight Gain Specialist – Improve Your Relationship with Food and Body
Can a dietitian help me gain weight?
Yes! Most individuals think dietitians and may immediately think about weight loss. In fact, dietitians can help with weight restoration as well to ensure optimal health.
Healthy Weight Restoration with a St. Louis Area Dietitian Nutritionist:
Weight restoration is key to recovery from an eating disorder, after a hospitalization or illness, for people who struggle with digestive health problems, or for individuals who are experiencing side effects of medication.
A dietitian on our team can provide outpatient nutrition therapy to help you reach a healthy weight. We will provide tailored advice and strategies:
- Assessment: We will review current food intake, exercise trends, weight history, medical history, and medications. We will establish reasons for low weight.
- Realistic Goal Setting: Together, based on your medical history, we can establish realistic weight restoration goals.
- Implement a Personalized Nutrition Plan: A weight gain dietitian on our team will help you implement a diet plan tailored to your weight loss goals. This will include nutrient-dense, calorie-dense foods to provide you with the necessary macronutrient balance while you restore your weight.
- Eating Behaviors: We can help you identify barriers to eating enough, and help you implement intuitive and mindful eating strategies so you can learn to trust your body’s hunger cues again.
- Meal Frequency: Some tips to increasing caloric intake include eating more frequent meals and snacks — high-nutrient dense options that can help increase muscle.
- Ongoing Support: We will continue to monitor your weight gain, muscle mass, and overall health. Based on your progress, we can adjust the plan to ensure healthy, sustainable weight restoration.
What is the goal of medical nutrition therapy for weight gain?
The goal of MNT for weight gain is to ensure one is at an optimal weight to support a great quality of life and prevent further health complications associated with being at too low of weight. These complications include:
- Nutritional Deficiencies: Inadequate intake of essential vitamins and minerals
- Weakened Immune System: Increased susceptibility to infections and illnesses due to a lack of proper nutrients.
- Bone Health Issues: Higher risk of osteoporosis and fractures due to low bone density and insufficient calcium intake.
- Muscle Wasting: Loss of muscle mass, leading to weakness, fatigue, and reduced physical performance.
- Hormonal Imbalances: Disruptions in hormone production, affecting menstrual cycles in women (amenorrhea) and possibly leading to infertility.
- Growth and Development Issues: In children and adolescents, being underweight can stunt growth and delay puberty.
- Anemia: Increased risk of iron-deficiency anemia, causing fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath.
- Heart Problems: Potential for developing heart-related issues, such as irregular heartbeats, low blood pressure, and increased risk of heart failure.
- Mental Health Issues: Increased risk of anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions.
- Slower Recovery: This may occur from injuries and illnesses due to inadequate protein and nutrient intake.
- Reproductive Health Issues: Complications with fertility and pregnancy, including increased risk of miscarriage and preterm birth.
At Branz Nutrition, our dietitians practice weight-inclusive medical nutrition therapy, providing our patients with individualized care to help them meet their wellness goals. There is no one-size-fits-all nutrition program for anybody.
Every BODY deserves the care it needs.
How much does weight gain nutrition therapy cost?
We accept most major insurance companies and the majority of our clients pay little to nothing outside of copays or deductibles to meet with a member of our team. We also offer military discounts as we are not in network with Tricare. We always recommend checking your insurance benefits regarding nutrition coverage as coverage depends on the patient’s individual insurance plan.
Our Team of Dietitian Nutritionists in the Greater St. Louis Area
Branz Nutrition Counseling is a team of certified eating disorder dietitians who provide compassionate care to those struggling with their relationship to food. Our approach is weight-inclusive, LGBTQIA+, and social justice-oriented, which means that we believe that everyone deserves access to quality care.
We can’t wait to meet you!
With locations in Illinois and Missouri, we offer both virtual and in-person counseling sessions. And, we are licensed to provide Telehealth nutrition therapy to patients around the country.
Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Illinois | Missouri | New York | Texas | Virginia | Iowa
We see clients in person in the St. Louis area, Missouri, Illinois, and from around the country via Telehealth. Learn more here.
Michelle Wilson
MS, RDN, LDN, CEDS-C, CIEC Registered Dietitian
Associate Clinical Manager
Learn more
Scroll to see the whole team.
How It Works – An Easy Three-Step Process to Get You on the Road to Recovery
Make An Appointment
What service do you need? We offer a range of appointments of different durations to best fit your needs.
Meet with your Personal Dietitian
Be paired with the dietitian nutritionist on our team and get continued support with one of our online groups. One-on-one counseling, in-person, or virtual. WE TAKE INSURANCE!
Take Control of Your Life
Heal your relationship with food and your body. Choose the best foods for your unique needs. Get the tools you need to live a healthy life. Receive continued support.
Note: In order to secure a spot on a dietitian’s schedule, we need a valid payment method on file.
Our Testimonials
Thank you for choosing us as the Best Dietitian Practice in STL (2023)
Branz Nutrition in the Media
Best Diets 2024 By Michelle Wilson
Intermittent Fasting By Michelle Wilson
How Healthy is That Pumpkin Latte By Michelle Wilson
Tips for Getting Back to a Healthy Eating Patterns after the Holidays By Michelle Wilson
Erica Branz