Also Included In: Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 02 Aug 2011 - 1:00 PDT
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As one of the most complicated sets of illnesses to treat, eating disorders have mental health, as well as medical and nutritional, aspects. While treatment by a multidisciplinary health-care team is considered the best practice, there is considerable debate over how to most effectively treat eating disorders and who should be on a treatment team.
In a newly updated position paper, the American Dietetic Association says nutrition counseling by a registered dietitian is an "essential component" of successful care for people diagnosed with eating disorders. ADA's position paper on "Nutrition Intervention in the Treatment of Eating Disorders" has been published in the August issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association:
It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that nutrition intervention, including nutrition counseling by a registered dietitian, is an essential component of the team treatment of patients with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and other eating disorders during assessment and treatment across the continuum of care.
Eating disorders are serious illnesses affecting approximately 8 million Americans at any given time. While anyone can suffer from an eating disorder, affecting all cultures, ages and genders, they are most common in teen and young adult women. All forms of eating disorders can be fatal. It is critical for anyone with symptoms of an eating disorder to seek professional help. Early treatment gives the greatest chance for a full recovery.
ADA's position paper was written by registered dietitians Amy D. Ozier, PhD, RD, LDN, assistant professor of family, consumer and nutrition sciences at Northern Illinois University; and Beverly W. Henry, PhD, RD, LDN, associate professor of family, consumer and nutrition sciences at NIU.
In addition, ADA's has produced its first practice paper on eating disorders, providing up-to-date information for registered dietitians on current research and controversies in the field; offers guidance on diagnostic criteria, symptoms, assessment and treatment of eating disorders; and delineates concrete ideas about the role of RDs.
ADA's position paper is designed to:
-- Increase awareness of the types of disordered eating and eating disorders
-- Detail emerging issues including associations between binge eating disorder and overweight and obesity
-- Focus on special populations such as athletes, adolescents and those considering bariatric surgery
-- Address other challenging issues encountered in treatment of eating disorders such as insurance coverage.
"The complexities of EDs, such as epidemiologic factors, treatment guidelines, special populations and emerging trends highlight the nature of EDs, which require a collaborative approach by an interdisciplinary team of mental health, nutrition and medical specialists," the authors of ADA's position paper write. "RDs are integral members of treatment teams and are uniquely qualified to provide medical nutrition therapy for the normalization of eating patterns and nutritional status. However, this role requires understanding of the psychologic and neurobiologic aspects of EDs. Advanced training is needed to work effectively with this population. Further efforts
with evidence-based research must continue for improved treatment outcomes related to EDs, along with identification of effective primary and secondary interventions."
Source: American Dietetic Association (ADA)
Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.Visit our eating disorders section for the latest news on this subject. There are no references listed for this article. Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:
MLA
9 Dec. 2011.
American Dietetic Association. (2011, August 2). "Registered Dietitians Are Essential For Successful Treatment Of Eating Disorders, Says American Dietetic Association." Medical News Today. Retrieved from
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/232073.php.
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posted by Tom Hennessy on 2 Aug 2011 at 5:31 am
Dieticians are the SAME people who told us lettuce has no redeeming health qualities. Dieticians have told us tomatoes are bad for us. Dieticians are NOW telling us potatoes are bad for us. Dieticians tell us we need four times more protein than we actually need. Do we REALLY need dieticians ? Nope. Imho.
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posted by Gab on 3 Aug 2011 at 7:15 am
Dietitians are not telling you that potatoes are bad for you. I don't know where you've found this information, but it is incorrect. Recovery takes a lot of support and trust-worthy individuals: the patient needs to rest assured that these people KNOW what they are doing, and that they can be trusted.
Registered Dietitians can help assure the individuals that they will not turn "fat" or obese by eating normally. It will make things easier to believe, and with the scientific knowledge that these professionals have, a trusting relationship can be more easier mustered.
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