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 attended a webinar, talk, or conference speaking specifically to this issue? I haven’t.
And that’s kind of astounding given the fact that the prevalence rates of eating disorders in the US are around 9%. And according to the CDC, in 2018, 51.8% of US adults had at least 1 chronic condition.
People diagnosed with one or more chronic health conditions are more likely to develop comorbid mental health diagnoses such as depression or an eating disorder. Mental health diagnoses are something often overlooked by medical providers adding to the isolation and vulnerability one might feel.
I’d love to thank my newest associate and colleague at Marci RD Nutrition, Anita Dharwadkar, who so generously joined me to talk about this topic of Eating Disorders and Chronic Illness. Click the video below to listen in to our chat.
In this video we discuss:
- What the term chronic illness means
- How chronic illness increases risk for the development of an eating disorder and other mental health conditions
- Best practice for providers to keep in mind when supporting people with chronic illness and eating disorders
Check out the resources and sources listed below.
Click the video below to listen in.
Sources:
Harvard School of Public Health: Report: Economic Costs of Eating Disorders
Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Prevalence of Multiple Chronic Conditions Among US Adults, 2018
Resources:
Read about the lived experiences of those with chronic illness
Learn more about rare, chronic diseases
Podcasts: Made Visible; Invisible Not Broken
I am so grateful that Anita has joined my team. She has a unique skill and passion for working with folks with chronic illness, as well as working with adolescents with eating disorders.
You can learn more about Anita here or by reaching out to our team at admin@marcird.com.
Do you worry that you are not serving your clients with eating disorders?
Maybe you feel sometimes that you are not sure of the ideal way to reach these clients?
Seem like “something” is missing your your work with these clients?
This is a common feeling with many clinicians, after all you want to do your best for all your clients. I have worked with clients with eating disorders for over 15 years, and I have learned there are 5 common pitfalls clinicians experience. If you change your methods and work to avoid these pitfalls, you will see a drastic shift in yourself and your eating disorder clients.
The art and science of working with eating disorders is an ongoing journey of learning and development. This free eBook will get you started on a new path!
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