Weight Gain

Weight Gain Dietitian Nutritionist in the St. Louis Area, Missouri, and Illinois

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.

Schedule (Missouri Residents)

Schedule (Illinois Residents)

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

Gwendoline Balto

MS, RDN, LDN

Registered Dietitian
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Brianna Becherer

MS, RDN, LDN, CPT

Registered Dietitian
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Laura Bradfield

RDN, LDN

Registered Dietitian
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Kelly Houston

MS, RDN, LDN, CLC

Registered Dietitian
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Michelle Wilson

MS, RDN, LDN, CEDS-C, CIEC

Registered Dietitian
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Erica Branz

MS, RDN, LDN, CEDS

Founder and Registered Dietitian
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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.

Schedule for Missouri Residents

Schedule for Illinois Residents

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)

There have been times where my daughter will eat 4 bowls of carrots and turn down a cookie, and there have been times where she will want all the fruit snacks and nothing else, but it doesn’t stress me out because I know now that it’s just what her body wants in the moment. The information provided in your course not only helps my kids, but also opened my eyes to some of my own internal struggles around sugar and meal times!"
My sister Gifted this program to me and I'm so glad she did! I've already gotten so much out of watching the modules and reading the PDFs."
Understanding and implementing the Division of Responsibility in Feeding really takes the pressure off meal times. I love sitting down to enjoy dinner with my family and I hope it’s a memory my kids enjoy when they’re older too."
Also, againg, thank you for being so kind to "A". She usually does not like seeing "doctor like people", but she actually enjoys coming to see you, so that says a lot.
by Mother of a Patient, Saint Louis, MO
I can't thank you enough for all you have done for us. I know we will continue to deal with food issues but at least I see hope. I honestly don't know how L(or myself) could have got through the past year without you. You literally are a lifesaver!! You are an amazing dietitian!!.
by Mother of a Patient
Thank you for the caring devoted service and gentle compassion you have shown "S" over the years.
by Mother of a Patient, Saint Louis, MO
I am truly grateful we found you to be he nutritionist. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
by Mother of a Patient, Saint Louis, MO
"For most of my life, I have correlated the size of my body to being loved and accepted. The smaller I am, the more lovable and acceptable I am. Giving up the dieting, the rules, and the noise has given me the freedom to trust, appreciate and accept love from others as well as myself".
by
I truly appreciate the encouragement and hearfelt, genuine concern you have for me. Your counsel and empathy have meant a great deal and helped keep me going during difficult times.
by C, Saint Louis, MO
Thanks for helping me think about food differently and providing guidance regarding how to select carbs. Also, thanks for helping me recognize that the evolution would take several months to come to a 'new normal'.
by E, Saint Louis, MO