“And I’ll connect you with a nutritionist.”

The moment I heard these words from my new therapist who, moments earlier, had diagnosed me with anorexia nervosa, I froze.

In my mind at that time, the idea of “working with a nutritionist” meant I would have to eat more food.

And eating more food meant gaining weight.

I silently negotiated with new therapist: “Can’t I just talk to you about all this? Why must we involve another person?”

But as my recovery moved forward, I recognized the importance of nutrition therapy in eating disorder recovery. Even though eating disorders are almost always about more than just food, eating behaviors are the conduit through which individuals process or reject their emotions. These two forms of therapy must work in tandem in order to stabilize the mind and body.

In this post, I’ll explain:

why nutrition therapy is necessary for eating disorder recovery
the differences between a nutritionist and a dietitian
common activities that might occur in nutrition therapy
some of my own experiences in nutrition therapy and how they affected my recovery

Note: I am not a trained professional. I write this post from my own experience with multiple nutritionists between 2008 and 2023. Please consider the information below to be anecdotal and not absolute fact.

The food-body connection in eating disorders

It’s safe to say that eating disorders affect the mind and body with similar levels of intensity. Below are some of the more common mental and physical effects of eating disorders.

Psychological effects of eating disorders

When we deprive our body of food and/or feed it in ways that don’t align with natural hunger cues and cycles, our body has difficulty trusting us.

Mentally, we might feel more anxious about food and food decisions—what time to eat, how often to eat, and how much to eat. We also might experience a wide range of feelings after we eat, like additional anxiety, despair, panic, sadness, or regret. As we cycle through these emotions, our body is just trying to keep up, which can manifest in the following ways.

Physical effects of eating disorders

Physical consequences of malnutrition can affect every system in the body. Malnutrition often leads to vitamin deficiencies, poor nutrient absorption, and an electrolyte imbalance, which can cause:

dehydration
chest pains
hair loss
organ damage
weakened bones
hormonal dysregulation (lower testosterone levels in males, amenorrhea [or absence of a menstrual period] in females)

How nutrition therapy benefits eating disorder recovery

Nutrition therapy can help address not only the nutritional deficiencies mentioned above but also existing attitudes and beliefs around food.

First, the professional might work with the patient to explore their relationship between the mind and body, and how food plays a role. They might ask: When did these beliefs begin? When did symptoms start to appear? How do these beliefs affect an individual’s daily life, relationships, work, etc.?

Then, they might work on renewing the relationship between the individual and their body. This could involve taking notes of the individual’s current eating habits, gently suggesting alterations that the patient feels comfortable with, asking the individual to keep food logs for a period of time, trying new foods in a safe environment, and other tactics to help re-establish trust in the body.

Finding a nutrition therapist for eating disorder recovery

The nuances of eating disorder recovery

We know there’s more than just one type of eating disorder, and even within each type, they can present in a multitude of ways. This means nutritional care must be individualized and must (and I cannot emphasize this enough) be under the purview of someone who has experience treating the specific eating disorder. These professionals can be hard to find, but it’s worth the search to find someone who understands explicitly your individualized nutrition needs.

Nutritionist vs. dietitian

Before we explore the role of nutrition therapy in eating disorder recovery, let’s discuss the difference between a nutritionist and a dietitian.

The term **nutritionist** is a broader term that refers to a professional who specializes in food and nutrition. This person may not necessarily hold a certification or degree in nutrition.

A **registered dietitian** (RD), however, is a certified professional who’s had formal education and training in providing medical nutrition therapy. Their specialty often extends beyond food to focus on specific nutritional needs (e.g., eating disorders).

If you’re starting your search for nutritional care, here are a few things to look out for as you browse your options and begin your initial consultations:

Specializations and certifications, like “RD” or “CEDRD” (Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian)
An understanding of both physical and psychological symptoms of eating disorders
A willingness to collaborate with the other member(s) of your treatment team, like your therapist, primary care physician, and psychiatrist (if applicable)

The role of a nutritionist or dietitian in eating disorder recovery

The role of a nutritionist or dietitian is to help you explore your relationship with food and fill any nutritional gaps that may exist as a result of your eating practices.

Once the professional has a good idea of your history, attitudes, beliefs, and current state, they can help create a personalized meal plan based on your body’s needs at that moment.

Personal story
If this sound scary, that’s because it is. The thought of adding new foods to my limited allowable list was something I dreaded. But a good nutritionist or dietitian will listen to these fears, guide you through them, and support you whenever you feel ready to challenge these fears.
The most freeing aspect of nutrition therapy for me has been the ability to talk about my thoughts about food and my body in a safe, judgment-free space. When you find a professional you trust, who understands the wide range of eating disorder symptoms—both mental and physical—you learn how to be open about your food struggles and verbalize things that you’ve kept inside for far too long.

Read: 'But you look fine': Why appearance and eating disorders aren't always linked

What to expect from nutrition therapy in eating disorder recovery

Beginning nutrition therapy in eating disorder recovery is nothing short of terrifying, not only for you but also for your eating disorder. Your nutritionist might reveal to you things you don’t want to hear, things that will make your eating disorder shout at you to shut it down, leave the room, and quit altogether. When this happens, remind yourself why you’re there—because you want to get better.

Your past attitudes about food and your body

During your sessions, you’ll discuss the role food plays in your life. You’ll dig a bit deeper into the origins of your food beliefs, possibly extending back to your childhood. This may be uncomfortable, but it’s necessary to uncover the root of your relationship with food.

Your current eating habits and behaviors

After exploring how you got to where you are today, you’ll likely discuss your current eating habits—what you eat, when you eat, how often you eat, and whether you engage in compensatory behaviors (e.g., purging, fasting, exercising, etc.). This can help give the nutritionist an idea of any possible nutritional deficiencies that may be present.

Read: The importance of discomfort in eating disorder recovery

Nutrition therapy: More than just food

Like eating disorders themselves, nutrition therapy is about more than just food. It’s about analyzing how your food choices affect you physically and mentally. It’s about unlearning the food rules your eating disorder has made you follow. It’s about improving your relationship with food and your body. And it’s one of the most important aspects of eating disorder recovery.

To start your search for nutrition therapy, click here.

The role of nutrition therapy in eating disorder recovery

The food-body connection in eating disorders