Body Image
Restore your Relationship with Food and Body with a Body Image Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
How is body image related to nutrition?
Body image can play a big role in how someone nourishes themselves based on how they feel in their skin. Someone with poor body image may struggle to fuel themselves properly in an attempt to control their weight or shape. In addition, they may avoid certain foods they deem “bad” or “unhealthy”, which can contribute to feeling icky or uncomfortable in their skin.
A negative body image can lead to chronic dieting, disordered eating behaviors, and, possibly, the development of an eating disorder. Our relationship with our bodies affects the way we feel about food and exercise, and it often affects our relationships with others. How we feel about our bodies is directly related to how we nourish our bodies. As dietitians who specialize in eating disorder nutrition therapy, we understand how complex this relationship can be.
As weight-inclusive, non-diet dietitian nutritionists, we can work with you to help you improve your relationship with your body, learning to respect and value it. This is the foundation for healing from disordered eating behaviors and eating disorders.
What factors influence how people define their body image?
How we feel about our bodies is complex. Factors that influence our body image include:
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- The media – movies, magazines, and social media.
- Family dynamics that support the idea that “thinner” or “smaller” equates to healthier.
- Self-esteem
- Peer influence, including comments made about a person’s body can place pressure on the desire to look a certain way.
- Bullying and teasing or trauma related to weight.
- Developmental stages (puberty, menopause etc.)
- Abuse or trauma
- Physical activity
What is the best way to improve body image?
With our outpatient treatment program for disordered eating and eating disorders, healing your relationship with food and body is a critical factor in recovery. Here are some ways to develop a healthier body image:
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- Work towards self-compassion.
- Challenge negative thoughts.
- Shift the focus from appearance and numbers to health and wellness.
- Be actively critical of media and social media. (In fact, take a break from social media. Turn it off!)
- Choose clothes that make you feel comfortable and beautiful.
- Learn to navigate diet-obsessed people in your life.
- Be active – do something you love (walking, skating, ping-pong etc.) Movement releases endorphins, making us feel good. (It’s true! It’s science!)
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Cultivating a positive and accepting relationship with your body regardless of size, shape, or appearance is a journey that does not happen overnight. Work with one of the dietitians on our team to help you improve your relationship with food and body.
What is a HAES® nutritionist?
A HAES® nutritionist is one that supports Health at Every Size® focusing on the well-being of individuals regardless of their size or the number on the scale.
The Principles of HAES® are:
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- Healthcare is a human right for people of all sizes, including those at the highest end of the size spectrum.
- Wellbeing, care, and healing are resources that are both collective and deeply personal.
- Care is fully provided only when free from anti-fat bias and offered with people of all sizes in mind.
- Health is a sociopolitical construct that reflects the values of society.
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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.
We help individuals and families heal their relationships with food and body through compassionate, weight-inclusive care—supporting eating disorder recovery and managing chronic conditions like PCOS, diabetes, and heart disease using Intuitive Eating and Health at Every Size principles.
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