These new AAP guidelines will increase eating disorders in children
If you are in the eating disorder world, you have probably heard the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) newest guidelines for children who live in larger bodies. If you have not heard of these new guidelines, I’m going to summarize them here, as well as provide my stance on these recommendations. In the wise words [...]Learn to Take Up Space for Yourself
Taking up space can feel impossible and can often be a reason why you might feel stuck in your life or in your recovery. Hi! It’s Christine, one of the dietitians with the Marci RD team, still covering for her while she’s on Mat leave with the family! For those of you who might not [...]Self-Reflections and Lessons Learned from Life at College
For many, as the year comes to a close, it's often a time for self-reflection. For me, the end of the year is bittersweet, filled with emotions, gratitude, and hopes for the new year. ~ Anita Dharwadkar Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Folks often look back at the year and focus on what they didn’t do versus [...]How to Practice Gratitude with your Body during the Holidays
The holidays are approaching and this can be a tough time for many different reasons. Before we jump in, I did want to say that if you cannot be with loved ones or if this time of year is filled with mixed emotions, my thoughts are with you. ~ Christine Laker Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with [...]Clinicians, Conferences and Expanding Your Skills
I find that October is a month where I look forward to attending conferences and events like the TEDD-WIND Inclusivity Conference. I do this in order to expand and elevate my skills so that my clients and students in my programs can grow as well. This year is a little different as I am away [...]FALL TRAINING SALE + New and Improved Body Image Training
Body Image Training 2.0 training program -- SALE! It is that time of year again where I like to be sure that everyone has the opportunity to receive more training and development and at a special sale price! Plus, I have some important information about the Body Image Training 2.0 training program I offer and [...]Updates and News from the Marci RD Nutrition Team
As we head into Fall, our team of dietitians has lots of news to share. Can you believe that September is almost over? Admittedly, I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed because I am heading out on maternity leave for baby #2 on October 1st! I’m filled with a whole range of emotions – excitement, mixed with […]
Summertime Body Image is HARD!!
I know I am writing to folks across the globe, but here in the US, temperatures are hitting record highs, which seems to correlate with record high grumpy body image. With hotter temperatures and less clothing, it’s natural to feel more vulnerable and exposed. Often, summer brings more socialization and opportunities for body comparisons. Additionally, [...]Happy Pride and Resources on Intersections of Eating Disorders, Sexuality, and Gender to Share
I LOVE pride month. While the month’s origins are rooted in a very painful history of violence and oppression, it also reflects a movement towards celebration and freedom. Freedom to be one’s self without apology or shame. I understand we have a long way to go in creating a world where true equity and safety [...]Having Equity in the Eating Disorders Field
I am thrilled to put all of my support behind the first upcoming BIPoC Eating Disorders Conference. In the video below, I share with you my perspective on why we as a field desperately need this conference and the action you can take to support it. IF you say you care about greater equity in [...]Celebrating International No Diet Day!! [May 6, 2022]
I Have TWO Reasons to Celebrate today, which is International No Diet Day. It’s just never going to get old that a worldwide celebration of NOT DIETING also falls on my birthday. So, you better believe I have two very solid reasons to celebrate. But I also want to share, in case you didn’t know, [...]When Eating Disorders and Chronic Illness Intersect
We are talking about Eating Disorders and Chronic Illness with our newest Dietitian at Marci RD Nutrition, Anita Dharwadkar. Did you know that chronic illness creates specific vulnerabilities to the development of mental health challenges and eating disorders? In my experience, this is an area that deserves a whole lot more attention. Have you ever [...]Exciting Changes at Marci RD Nutrition: A New Dietitian
It’s National Registered Dietitian Day and it’s the perfect opportunity to share some very exciting news about the dietitians in my practice! First, I am thrilled to announce that Anita Dharwadkar has just joined the team full-time. Anita is passionate about working in the field of eating disorders, with particular interests in working with kids, […]
Urgent Action: Standard of Care in the Field of Nutrition and Dietetics
Have you ever wanted to make a difference with just a few minutes of your time? Here’s your chance!! The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recently released a draft proposal of some really harmful recommendations through their Evidence Analysis Library. You can read the proposed guidelines for yourself here. To put it bluntly, they are advocating [...]Eating Disorders Awareness: Increasing Awareness In and Out of the Field
What’s that saying? “Clean up your own backyard” before pointing your finger at somebody else’s. Something like that? It’s Eating Disorders Awareness Week and I can’t stop thinking about that quote. Stay with me on this one. It’s Eating Disorders Awareness Week and: Eating disorders remain the most lethal of mental illnesses, second to death [...]My Fave Books of 2021 by Marci Evans
It’s January and well, I won’t say Happy New Year, because most people I talk to right now aren’t jumping with joy right now. Things are a bit rough my friends, so it really seems like no better time than to escape into the land of books. For the third year in a row, my [...]Remember and Repeat after me – I AM Enough
December is a hectic month. Regardless of your religious affiliation, the holidays you celebrate, and how you are managing the pandemic right now - December is kind of hard. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve found myself dropping balls left and right - sending my son to school without his water bottle, forgetting to [...]Boundaries & Gratitude are Like PB&J
Here in the United States, the Thanksgiving holiday reminds many of us to reconnect to our gratitude. Yet, this creates a very interesting tension for individuals with eating disorders because of the central role that food plays in our gatherings and celebrations. “I’m supposed to feel gratitude while managing all of this food stress?!” For [...]3 Myths about Eating Disorders Treatment
While there are a lot of problematic myths out there, here are three Myths about Eating Disorders Treatment that I’ve been reflecting on quite a bit. As I have been doing all the legwork on the newest version of my online training “Nutrition Counseling for Eating Disorders” I have been thinking a lot about common […]
What Does Equality Have to Do With Your Body?
Today is Women’s Equality Day here in the United States. This is a day which commemorates “the 1920 adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibits...denying the right to vote...on the basis of sex.1” I am so grateful that so many people have fought tirelessly and continue to fight for the [...]What does body image healing mean?
Thanks so much for taking the time to read my blog posts. It always surprises and delights me to get your feedback and appreciation. I always write from the heart and hope that at least one sentence will feel meaningful for at least one person...well let’s be honest, my bar is a bit higher than [...]What’s Food Insecurity Got to do with Pride Month?
It’s hard to believe that here in Boston, the summer is upon us! This past week we’ve had scorching temperatures, coupled with lots of very quick changes to our covid guidelines. It sure feels like a lot of changes all at once. If you’re like me or any of my clients, you might find yourself [...]I Have Two Reasons to Celebrate!
I wanted to share a special message with you on International No Diet Day. And you'll learn why I find this day extra special. ;) I hope you'll join me in celebrating! Sneak Peek! I wanted to share this other special information with you too! “The Gut Brain Connection: Cutting Edge Research & Future Directions [...]How Will We Get More People Doing Eating Disorders Work?
National Eating Disorders Week is upon us and I thought I’d share a little about why I love the work I do and why I am so passionate about expanding the field to more professionals. You can check out my video by clicking below or scroll down for the cliffs notes version. As [...]Ch Ch Ch Changes…
I have been singing the illustrious David Bowie song, “Changes,” while simmering over this month’s newsletter. Fall has always signaled a time for transition and change for me. Something about the start of a new school year, even though I’m no longer in school, lives in my bones. I get re-energized to refocus and reprioritize […]
Digestive Disorders and Eating Disorders: A Complicated Mix
Several years into my work as a nutrition therapist I found myself really grappling with a clinical dilemma. Many of my clients were not only suffering from an eating disorder but they were also suffering from pretty severe digestive issues. And these digestive issues were not only complicating their recovery but they were seriously impacting […]
Special Eating Disorders Training Package for New Grads and RDNs
One of the most common questions I get from students and new dietitians is this, “Marci, how did you get into the field of eating disorders?” The honest answer is that I received zero training in school, a tiny bit of exposure in my internship, then threw myself into self-study at the very beginning of […]
Why Racism Matters to My Work
Over the past week, I have been filled with a flood of thoughts and emotions related to the death of George Floyd and the resulting groundswell of anti-racist protests. While issues of race in America might not seem directly related to my work as an eating disorder specialist, I wanted to share with you why […]
My Musings on National Eating Disorders Awareness Week
Come as You Are. Think on that phrase for just a moment. Come. As. You. Are. What if we felt able to show up in all facets of our life exactly as we are? Not as we pretend to be. Not as we believe others want us to be. Not as external expectations demand we […]
Boston Speaking Events
I wanted to let you know about a couple of exciting talks I’m giving in the Boston area in April. I have the privilege of teaching about two of my passion topics – body image counseling for dietitians and counseling techniques for dietitians! Woohoo!!! I hope that you may be able to join me. Here […]
Welcoming a New RD to the Team!
I opened the doors to my private practice exactly 11 years ago this month. It seems impossible that so much time has passed! And in those 11 years, I have welcomed 5 dietitians to my team. All of them compassionate, smart, hardworking, and fun! I have been truly blessed to be surrounded by women I […]
Forget WW! How to Protect Your Children from Food & Body Shame
The top question I receive from family, friends, and people on social media is, “How do I raise my child to have a healthy relationship with food and body?”. For many people, they reach out to me because they have struggled, often since childhood, with disordered eating, chronic dieting, and body hatred and desperately do […]
An update from Marci
I’m happy to be sending you a quick hello from my maternity leave. I’ve been reflecting on some of the principles I’ve taught my clients over the years and how they have been immensely helpful to me as I’ve transitioned into this new and very busy role as a parent. And what I love about […]
Self-Compassion and Embodiment While Recovering from Disordered Eating
This is a guest article by my colleague, Sarah Patten, one of the Registered Dietitians with the Marci RD Nutrition team. The cold days of February are upon us and the winter doldrums have settled in for many. On the days when I’m most longing for warm weather and sunshine, I try to remain grateful […]
Let’s Get Real
Monday marked the start of the annual Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW) and I thought long and hard about what I could say that might feel meaningful to each of you. Many of you know an awful lot about eating disorders because you treat them or have suffered from one. An eating disorder has touched you in some […]
How to Help Someone with an Eating Disorder
Chances are you know someone with an eating disorder. And chances are you don’t know how to help them. This article on helping someone with an eating disorder is a great resource. Here are the take-home points: Communicate your concerns. Share your memories of specific times when you felt concerned about the person’s eating or exercise behaviors. Explain […]
The Role of the RD: Outpatient Eating Disorder Treatment
Eating disorders are psychological issues, so you may be wondering why having a dietitian as part of a treatment team is even necessary. In fact, if food is an issue for you, the idea may seem downright frightening! Here are a few ways a dietitian can be immensely helpful in treating eating disorders: • Reduce […]
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2016 & Sarah Patten
Sarah Patten is a passionate eating disorder specialist who works with me in my practice. She is going to close out National Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2016 by sharing with each of you “The One Thing She Wishes People Knew About Eating Disorders.” Take it away Sarah! Picture Source Typically, when a person finds […]
#2- Eating Disorders Come In All Shapes and Sizes
A client in recovery wishes you knew: Bodies really do come in all shapes and sizes, and we don’t teach kids that it’s OK to follow your own genetic blueprint. For me, eating disorder recovery means accepting that plus-sized is my body’s healthy setting. Another client in recovery wishes you knew: Eating disorders come in […]
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2016
A couple of months ago I began contemplating what I wanted to share for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (NEDAW) 2016. Each year for the past several years I have honored this important week with a variety of posts on insurance coverage, personal recovery stories, Twitter Chats, fact and statistics, and much more. And this […]
Nigella Lawson, Clean Eating, & Eating Disorders
Recently, famed Chef Nigella Lawson appeared in an article where she stated that “Clean eating is a way to hide an eating disorder.” I posted this article on my Facebook feed and it generated A LOT of discussion. And it was amazing to me see the varied comments and strong emotion behind each of […]
Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2015
This week we honor and acknowledge eating disorders awareness week. In this vlog I introduce the theme for 2015 as well as the group of guest bloggers who make an appearance on the blog this week. It is an inspiring mix of clients and clinicians so I hope you’ll come back each day to read […]
Eating Disorders Nutrition Therapy Training
Thank you all for your interest in my upcoming training for dietitians and dietitians to be. Registration is now live! Please note, the registration button states that you are registering for a webinar on October 14th, 2014. The cost of $250 will cover ALL 5 hour long trainings on October 14th, 28th and November 4th, […]
Nutrition Counseling for Eating Disorders Training
The Southeast Massachusetts Dietetic Association has invited me to give a half day training for dietitians. I’ll be using case studies and teaching therapeutic techniques to effectively treat eating disorders in an outpatient setting. I will discuss ways to appropriately integrate CBT, DBT, and Motivational Interviewing within a RDN’s scope of practice. The Southeast Dietetic […]
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2012: #endED Twitter Chat Re-Cap
Thank you to all that joined February’s #endED twitter chat with National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) before Eating Disorders Awareness Week. NEDA is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders. Elizabeth Saviteer ( @NEDAStaff )and Marci Anderson ( @MarciRD ) lead the chat and some wonderful comments were […]
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week and #endED
We are happy to announce that this month’s #endED twitter chat will be with National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) as we get ready for Eating Disorders Awareness Week. NEDA is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders. Both #Ended and NEDA share the vision of a world without eating disorders. Join us on February […]
Establishing an Outpatient Eating Disorders Treatment Team
When struggling with an eating disorder, one of the hardest things to do is establish an outpatient team. An outpatient team typically consists of a therapist, physician, dietitian (sometimes referred to as nutritionist or nutrition therapist), and psychiatrist. If you live in Massachusetts, MEDA is the best resource for those struggling with an eating disorder […]
3 Truths about Eating Disorders
There are loads of myths about eating disorders. Below are three myth-busting truths about eating disorders. Wear purple for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week! 1. Eating disorders are serious illnesses, not lifestyle choices Eating disorders are complex conditions that arise from a combination of long-standing behavioral, emotional, psychological, interpersonal, biological and social factors. As our […]
New Treatments for Eating Disorders
A client sent me a link to a radio program entitled “New Treatments for Eating Disorders” on the Diane Rehm Show. While I haven’t had time to listen to the program myself, I thought it was worthy of sharing with you. If you listen to the show, let me know what you think. The panel […]
Advocacy and Eating Disorders
I spent the weekend attending the 2010 MEDA Conference: Getting Unstuck: Revitalizing the Prevention and Treatment of Eating Disorders. The closing keynote speaker was Kitty Westin, a woman who’s daughter commit suicide as a consequence of her eating disorder. Kitty has turned her grief into activism and has committed her life to advocacy for the […]
Yoga in the Treatment of Eating Disorders
A recent randomized clinical control trial of using yoga in the treatment of eating disorders appeared in the April issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health. The study compared traditional treatment at an outpatient eating disorder center as compared to individual yoga plus standard care. After 8 weeks, those in the experimental group showed lower […]
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week
February 21-27 is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (NEDAW) NEDAwareness Week is a collective effort of primarily volunteers, eating disorder professionals, health care providers, educators, social workers, and individuals committed to raising awareness of the dangers surrounding eating disorders and the need for early intervention and treatment. The Theme: It’s Time to Talk About It […]
Eating Disorders: How to Reach Out
A few days ago, a close friend called with a dilemma. “I think my friend has an eating disorder, what should I do? What can I say?” For anyone who has witnessed a friend or relative suffer the demands of such a destructive illness, you know how difficult these questions can be. Please know that if you find yourself in such a situation, […]