why nutritional therapists need specialist eating disorder training

“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.” — Anthony J. D’Angelo

Let’s face it: the last few years have been particularly tough for people with eating disorders and disordered eating. The covid 19 pandemic led to a noticeable rise in new cases and relapses amongst those who were previously in recovery - thanks to isolation, uncertainty and difficulty accessing treatment services. Now, several years later, treatment providers remain stretched, and this, alongside the increasing influence of social media and societal pressure around the ‘ideal body’, is further fuelling disordered eating. But it isn’t all doom and gloom: there also appears to be greater recognition of these conditions.

As a seasoned practitioner and trainer in nutritional approaches for eating disorders, I’ve seen firsthand an increasing demand for nutritional interventions to support those with eating disorders and disordered eating. People are increasingly looking to nutritional therapy to help restore a positive relationship with food, and we, as practitioners, need to be ready and equipped to support them in the best ways we can. This is where well-trained, experienced, and confident nutritional therapists have a vital service to offer.

general nutritional training falls short for eating disorders

Now, I’m not down on core nutritional training - training providers do an excellent job, but having so much to cram in means there is little space for specialist areas like eating disorders. Having trained numerous practitioners over the years, I know that general nutrition training doesn't prepare you for the complex realities of working with clients with eating disorders. While nutritional therapists are well-positioned in the community to support clients, the intricacies of eating disorders require more than just foundational knowledge.

In my experience, nutritional therapists who approach these conditions without specialised training often risk inadvertently reinforcing disordered eating behaviours despite having the very best intentions. For example, I’ve seen several cases where well-meaning advice has triggered restrictive eating, exacerbated food anxieties or even slipped clients out of eating disorder recovery. Specialised eating disorder training equips nutritional therapists with the essential skills and strategies (and confidence!) needed to navigate these complex challenges effectively, preventing the reinforcement of disordered eating patterns.

it’s not really about food

As someone deeply involved in both the practice and training of eating disorder professionals, I can tell you that eating disorders are not about food—they are complex mental health conditions. Disorders like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder involve psychological, emotional, social, and physiological factors that intertwine with an individual's relationship with food, body image, and self-worth, among other factors.

Without specialist training, even the most skilled nutritional therapist might inadvertently reinforce harmful beliefs, such as promoting restrictive eating patterns or failing to recognise underlying trauma. Specialised eating disorder training for nutritional therapists provides the critical skills to approach these sensitive issues with nuance, confidence and effectiveness. For example, understanding and navigating the eating disorder mindset, the anorexic voice, psychological inflexibility or emotional dysregulation (to name but a few) are all needed to support recovery.

addressing the psychological components with eating disorder training

From my years of working in this field, I know that addressing the psychological aspects of eating disorders is not just helpful—it’s essential. Eating disorders are deeply rooted in psychological distress, and successful interventions require an understanding of how thoughts, feelings, and behaviours around food are interconnected.

The best specialist eating disorder training programmes incorporate techniques from various nutritional, psychological, behavioural and coaching disciplines, such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), which provides tools to help clients build psychological flexibility and distress tolerance. Although nutritional therapists are not psychology professionals, specialist eating disorder training must equip them to understand how to integrate these approaches within their scope of practice safely and effectively. This is crucial for helping clients restore a positive relationship with food and their bodies.

working in a multidisciplinary way with eating disorder training

Nutritional interventions alone are not sufficient for eating disorder recovery. The reality is that eating disorder recovery requires a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach. Having collaborated with doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors, psychotherapists, dietitians, and other professionals, I know how vital it is for a nutritional therapist to understand their role within this broader team.

Specialist training provides the tools to communicate and collaborate effectively with other healthcare professionals. It teaches you how to remain within your scope of practice and recognise when to refer or consult with others. This level of professionalism not only enhances client care but also fosters trust and respect among your fellow practitioners and the health profession.

a call to action for nutritional therapists

Whether you want to work exclusively in eating disorders or not, you are likely to come across eating difficulties with all types of clients looking for nutritional support. Having delivered specialist eating disorder training to different practitioners for several years, I’ve seen the benefit of nutritional therapists having more experience and confidence to support clients with eating disorders and disordered eating.

I often get asked by nutritional therapists what it is like working in the eating disorder field and what types of training and practitioner support are out there. So I’ve decided to do a free online workshop to address this need.

Find out five things every nutritional therapist needs to know about working with eating disorders by attending a free online workshop on Thursday, 26th September 2024, from 1.30-230pm. Register here.