Insights on the Link between GI Disorders and Eating Disorders
At this year’s GI Nutrition Conference, one surprising theme stood out—and it’s too important not to talk about. I am so grateful I was able to attend the Food the Main Course Gastrointestinal (GI) Nutrition Conference at The University of Michigan again this year. I attended last year and LOVED it. The conference has a [...]
Back to College with an Eating Disorder: Avoid These 3 Common Mistakes
Protect your Eating Disorder recovery this semester by planning ahead, managing triggers, and building a support system with a dietitian. Starting college is exciting, but it also brings new pressures that can make eating disorder recovery harder. Whether you’re a first-year student moving away from home or returning after summer break, the back-to-school season often [...]
What does a Registered Dietitian do when working with Clients
In March, each year, we recognize National Registered Dietitian Day. While I love being a dietitian, I DREAD telling strangers what I do for a living. When a stranger sitting next to me on an airplane or a parent at my kids’ school asks, “What do you do for a living?” I cringe. I cringe [...]
Barriers to Eating Disorders Treatment and Growing Awareness
Every February, an entire week is set aside for Eating Disorders Awareness Week. While eating disorders are part of my life 52 weeks out of the year, it feels important to join with others fighting for prevention, treatment, and recovery from this devastating illness. Did you know that one of the biggest obstacles to recovery [...]
Living with Chronic Illness comes with Loss and Grief
The Hidden Losses of Chronic Illness and How to Cope As someone who lives with chronic illness myself, I know firsthand how it can quietly reshape your world. Grief isn’t always about death. Sometimes, it's about mourning the version of yourself that no longer exists - the one who moved freely, who made plans without [...]
Resilient Voices: A Support Group for those with Chronic Illness In Eating Disorder Recovery
We are pleased to announce that registration is open for Resilient Voices, a support group for folks who have both a chronic illness and are in eating disorder recovery. The group was developed and is led by Anita Dharwadkar, one of the Registered Dietitian Nutritionists here at Marci RD Nutrition and she has a special message below [...]
8 Tips to Improve your Wellbeing without Diet or Exercise Resolutions
If January is a tough time of year, you are not alone. Your social media feed is likely filled with people sharing the highlights of 2024, while diet culture is constantly reminding you how you can be better, under the veil of “New Year’s resolutions.” It is a recipe for comparison and undeniable pressure to [...]
Food Insecurity: A risk factor for the development of eating disorders
Did you know that November 17-23 is Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week? With the Thanksgiving holiday upon us here in the United States, it seems apropos. If you’re like me, even amidst my own struggles and challenges, I feel extraordinarily grateful that secure housing and enough food aren’t on my list of worries. Ensuring that [...]
5 Strategies that have Supported my Professional Growth as a Clinician
Clinicians and dietitians are always asking me, how do I plan and engage in my own growth and professional development? It is a common question I receive from colleagues. They wonder how I engage in my own continued growth alongside all of the things that I do for work (counsel, supervise, teach, write, etc.). This [...]
Working with Eating Disorder Clients… Two Things I Don’t Know
One of the greatest gifts of getting farther along in one’s career is developing a comfort with “not knowing” stuff. I know that sounds wild because I am kind of obsessed with learning. It’s one of the things I love most about this career - the opportunities for ongoing learning are everywhere. With experience comes [...]
Retro Review: I cannot believe this Body Image Blog is still #1
In these retro reviews, I’ve been looking back in time at the top 3 blog posts on my site of all time. And we have finally made it blog post #1, one on the topic of unrealistic beauty standards… It is titled, “Does this uterus make me look fat?” Pretty catchy title, huh? It’s essentially [...]
Retro Review: Do I Stand By What I Wrote on Sugar Addiction?
Six years ago, I wrote an article about sugar addiction that to this day is one of my most visited blog posts. I embarked on a fun little project this past summer of revisiting my most clicked on blog posts of all time. You may remember that the 3rd most popular post was about Dannon [...]
Highlights from the “Food the Main Course” Conference!
The "Food the Main Course” Conference It is a dietitian-designed, organized, and led conference which specifically focuses on the treatment of digestive disorders and gastrointestinal (GI) conditions. I recently attended my first "Food the Main Course” Conference, and it was a phenomenal experience and I’m so excited to share with you a few of the things [...]
Retro Review: Do I Stand by My Critique of this Yogurt 14 Years Later?
The messages from diet culture on what makes something ‘healthy’ continue to endure over time. Summer gives me nostalgia vibes. The warmer weather, longer days, popsicles, and flip flops really do bring me back. And thanks to my marketing director, I’ve been going on a different kind of trip back in time. She recently shared [...]
Improve Body Positivity While Managing Chronic Illness & Eating Disorders
This co-occurring struggle is complicated, real, and there are very few resources available on the topic. Several years ago I was preparing for a talk on digestive disorders and eating disorders. I stumbled on a qualitative research study exploring the themes related to body image for people with chronic digestive health conditions. I was struck [...]
Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2024 – Healing in Community
Today marks the first day of Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW) with this year’s theme, “Healing in Community.” Historically, during eating disorders (ED) awareness week, I’ve aimed my efforts at clinicians outside the ED profession. This year, I’m taking a different approach and speaking directly to those of us already treating EDs, because in order [...]
Marci’s Annual Book Round-Up for 2023
If you’ve been reading my posts for a bit, you already know that each January (except when I'm on parental leave!) I post an annual book round-up. I share with you some of my favorite books from the previous year with a very quick blurb about how they made my heart sing. If you want [...]
The Gifts I Receive from My Nutrition Counseling Clients
I love gift giving. And as someone who celebrates Christmas, gift giving is front of mind this time of year. But lately I’ve been reflecting a lot on the gifts that my clients have given me over the years and wanted to share a bit from my heart as we close out the year. Over [...]
4 Tips to Manage the Holidays with Chronic Illnesses and EDs
You can enjoy the holiday season as stress and symptom-free as possible. If you are reading this and struggle with an eating disorder (ED), chronic illness, or both, I am proud of you. You must manage countless challenges each and every day. EDs and chronic illnesses can be thought of as “invisible illnesses.” On the [...]
Weight is Not the Illness When it Comes to Eating Disorders
We need to end traumatic and destructive anti-fatness rooted racism, shame, and discrimination. I got so angry while at the Eating Disorders Research Society Conference in September of 2023. If you’ve been following my reels on Instagram (totally ok if you’re not), you may have seen me sharing some of my takeaways and highlights from the [...]
The Intersection of Chronic Illness, Eating Disorders and Body Image
We have very little research that explores the impact of more rare, chronic conditions on issues of food and body image healing. But I can tell you from both personal and professional experience, complex chronic illness takes a significant toll on both. That is why I am so passionate about educating and supporting others. There [...]
Marci’s Annual Book Round-Up for 2022
Typically, each January, I do a roundup of my favorite books from the previous year. Since I was out on leave this past January, I thought today was the PERFECT day to share my recap because here in the U.S., it’s National Book Day! Below are some of the books on the top of my [...]
Ready for an Eating Disorder Conference that is Very Different?
It’s spring here in the USA, which means conference season is in full force!! As someone who is borderline obsessed with ongoing learning and professional development, this is both exciting and overwhelming. There are so many compelling learning opportunities, yet we all have to operate within the limits of time and money. (I am still [...]
What Makes You Incredibly Happy?
Today, March 20th, is International Day of Happiness! It’s Marci! I’m kind of, sort of, back! As many of you know, I have been on maternity leave since October when my second son, Henri, was born. The last several months have been a pretty unbelievable whirlwind of emotions and sleep deprivation. Writing this feels like [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 […]
Body Image Training & Coping tools + Groups to help you!
Last month I wrote about summer body image struggles and I can’t thank you enough for all of the positive feedback I received from both individuals and providers. The topic resonated for so many of you and it’s a topic we can’t seem to get off our brains over here at Marci RD. Since it’s a [...]
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 [...]
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’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 [...]
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 [...]
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 […]
Free Resources and Goodies for the Holiday Season
For many of us, the months between October and December are filled with a flurry of celebrations with the holiday season. This can be a time filled with joy and excitement but also a tremendous amount of overwhelm and financial stress. As this week marks the celebration of Thanksgiving here in the United States, I […]