Disordered Eating Treatment with a Dietitian Nutritionist in the St. Louis Area, Missouri & Illinois, Get Help for Restrictive Eating Disorder
Access Medical Nutrition Therapy for Disordered Eating with Dietitians from Missouri and Illinois, Experience Recovery
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We are expert dietitian nutritionists and provide individualized and collaborative care to assist you in developing a rewarding relationship with food and your body. We offer online or in-person outpatient nutrition therapy. Our approach comes from a non-diet and weight-inclusive perspective.
We know how vulnerable it is to share those inner critic struggles regarding your relationship with food and body image.
Please know we practice with empathy and compassion.
We want you to live a life of PEACE and FREEDOM.
What is the difference between an eating disorder and disordered eating?
Disordered eating exists along a spectrum between normal eating and a diagnosed eating disorder. It is characterized by symptoms and behaviors that resemble those of eating disorders but with less frequency or severity.
Eating disorders meet specific DSM-5 criteria to be diagnosed with anorexia, bulimia, ARFID, or binge eating disorder. Most eating disorders, however, start with some sort of disordered eating beforehand.
Both require care. We are a weight-inclusive, non-diet dietitian team in the St Louis area, working with patients online or in person in our Illinois and Missouri offices. We are ready to help you or your loved one to heal from their eating disorder.
What are the symptoms and signs of disordered eating?
Behaviors include but are not limited to:
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Restricting food
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Skipping meals, avoiding socializing when you think food will be involved
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Developing strict habits or routines with food
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Compulsive or emotional eating
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Excessive exercise
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Misuse of diuretics or laxatives for weight control
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Preoccupation with body weight or shape
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Feelings of guilt and shame around food.
Who is most at risk for developing disordered eating or restrctive eating disorder?
Many factors can contribute to developing disordered eating, but those exposed to diet culture in their home have a higher risk. For instance if the parent (s) struggles with on and off again dieting and place a high value on weight as a predictor of health, this can easily set up a young child to be predisposed to disordered eating early on. There are other at-risk groups:
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Adolescents and Young Adults: According to NEDA and the CDC, this population experiences more stress due to academic demands, social relationships, identity development, and body image concerns and transitions, increasing the risk.
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Athletes and Dancers: Athletes whose sport emphasizes weight or body image (wrestling, dance, gymnastics, ice skating) are at a heightened risk.
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History of Trauma or Abuse: People who have experienced trauma or abuse might use eating as a coping mechanism, a way to manage emotional stress.
Certain people may face elevated stress levels due to factors like peer and family influence, trauma, genetics, and gender identity or sexual orientation. This can heighten the risk.
What treatment is there for disordered eating? What can a dietitian nutritionist do for disordered eating?
Nutrition therapy for disordered eating includes meeting the patient where they are at, setting attainable goals around minimizing behaviors and challenging beliefs around food, weight, and body as a start. Ensuring the individual is eating enough, plus a variety of nutritious and fun foods. It’s about determining what foods the patient actually enjoys eating, what foods make them nervous to be around, and ultimately working together with a dietitian to normalize eating again while minimizing disordered eating behaviors. It’s important to note, this problem most likely did not develop overnight, and will take some time to get better as well.
How much does medical nutrition therapy cost for disordered eating?
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.