If you suspect your child has anorexia the most important thing you can do is seek treatment. The longer the situation goes on untreated, the more difficult it becomes to change behaviour and the more strain is placed on the body. The first step is to find professional help. Because recovery takes time, it is crucial to find the right support.
I bring a wealth of education and knowledge about the physiological causes and effects of malnutrition that are unique to dietitian training. Using a diet history (what foods your child does and does not consume) I can determine which nutrients they are deficient in with more accuracy than a blood test! Often my clients have grown so used to their symptoms that they are not reported, and I become like a detective, identifying symptoms based on intake and other reports.
I identify when weight changes, up or down, are within normal limits, related to over or under-nutrition, or indicative of non-nutrition issues, such as kidney malfunction or hormone imbalance. Read more
I help treat the effects of malnutrition by coaching individuals to make the necessary dietary changes and recommend nutrition supplementation when necessary. Usually people with anorexia are terrified of gaining weight. I am sensitive to the emotional difficulty of gaining weight. I could tell you more, but you might like to read it directly from the source – my past clients – Click here to find out what they have said
People with anorexia with low body weight need to gain weight slowly, to avoid refeeding syndrome. It is very dangerous for someone with anorexia to gain weight on their own, without the expertise of a dietitian and a medical doctor. I can prescribe the proper amount of calories and weight gain, in order to facilitate slow, controlled weight gain to prevent the complications of refeeding syndrome.
I know that the journey to recovery from an eating disorder can be a long and bumpy ride but one that is achievable. I work with children, their treatment team and family and / or support network to help improve acceptance and flexibility with food, leading to physical and psychological benefits – one baby step at a time!
