WEIGHT RESTORATION
BODY IMAGE
ROAD TO RECOVERY
Effective communication between the patient and treatment team is critical when starting treatment so that the patient can be diagnosed and cared for appropriately. From there a treatment plan is formulated, which includes
a nutrition intervention component. Primary goals are to restore body weight, prevent complications associated
with refeeding, and to support the patient as the embark on the path to recovery.
Healing disconnected eating and the maladaptive thoughts that drive us to diet is an integral part of treatment. Patients will re-learn the connection between physical hunger and the drive to eat rather than emotional or situational cues. Through body image work, patients will restructure negative thoughts and feelings in order to pave the way towards body acceptance.
Healing from an eating disorder is a process which takes time and perseverance. On the road to recovery, patients
will learn how to re-establish their relationship with food with the support and help of an RD. Through making lifestyle changes and learning coping mechanisms for past, present and future obstacles, patients will be able to find peace
with themselves.
• Nutrition education and meal planning
• Restoring metabolic and endocrine function
• Establishing healthy and realistic weight goals
• Identifying and correcting nutrient deficiencies
• Ensuring adequate calorie intake through metabolic testing
• Education on nutrient needs and the dangers of disordered eating
• Support with changes in weight and eating as treatment progresses
• Breaking the binge/purge cycle
• Normalizing meal patterns and eating habits
• Create positive food related and eating experiences
• Cognitive behavioral techniques to re-work maladaptive food and weight related thoughts and behaviors
• Hunger work: regulation of internal hunger cues, less reliance on external cues
• Promoting positive self esteem through body image work and exercises
• Health at every size approach: diminishing reliance on the scale
• Education on meal planning and food preparation
• Developing a healthy relationship with exercise and physical activity
• Dining out and incorporation of “feared foods” with our dietitian
• Supermarket tours and development of food shopping lists
• Identification of and planning for future obstacles
• Nutrition support groups available