Registered Dietitians Are Navigators of Nutrition Intervention on Eating Disorders Treatment Teams
According to the booklet from the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals Foundation (iaedp™), The CEDRD in Eating Disorders Care, the Registered Dietician (RD) is a key and critically necessary member of the eating disorders (ED) treatment team who is uniquely qualified to provide medical nutrition therapy for the normalization of eating patterns and nutritional status.
PEKIN, Ill., Sept. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The nature of eating disorders requires a collaborative approach by an interdisciplinary team of psychological, nutritional and medical specialists. According to the booklet from the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals Foundation (iaedp™)—The CEDRD in Eating Disorders Care—the Registered Dietician (RD) is a key and critically necessary member of the eating disorders (ED) treatment team who is uniquely qualified to provide medical nutrition therapy for the normalization of eating patterns and nutritional status. The recently updated booklet is a must-read for healthcare professionals seeking ED treatment certification.
As the rate of individuals affected by eating disorders continues to grow, a greater need for qualified knowledgeable treatment providers exist in the field. The iaedp™ Foundation recognized this need by offering an Advanced Certification Program to promote standards of excellence in the field of eating disorders. Registered Dieticians with the Certified Eating Disorders Registered Dietitian (CEDRD) credential are experienced nutrition therapists who have met rigorous educational and skill requirements, have accumulated a minimum number of hours of qualifying work experience.
Nutrition intervention, including nutritional counseling by a Registered Dietician, is an essential component for the team treatment of ED patients with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and other eating disorders during assessment and treatment across the continuum of care.
In fact, if a nutritionist decides to take on the task of working with eating disorder clients, it is essential to work as a team player. Being part of this team allows each team member to be the most effective in their role and allows continued communication between all parties involved. While each team member's role within the team often can overlap, and the goal of recovery for the client remains cohesive, the booklet presents the importance that each team member has specific boundaries.
In a client-nutritionist relationship, the therapeutic alliance supports the client's need for behavior change. These changes are to challenge distorted and irrational thinking about food and to explore feelings related to hunger and fullness, metabolism and body image. The booklet also notes that "a client engages in nutritional counseling without any fear of being judged."
According to studies from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses. There is often a misconception that eating disorders are only "real" in emaciated women. However, a person of any sex and weight can be struggling from an eating disorder that is just as life threatening as someone who is severely underweight. Therefore, the dietitian's role in ED treatment involves looking at weights and vitals daily and tailoring the patient's meal plan to promote weight restoration, weight maintenance or weight loss. Meal plans must also be tailored to take into account the patient's specific eating disorder history and what behaviors they engage in, such as restriction, purging or laxative abuse.
The CEDRD in Eating Disorders Care offers information in a chapter format over 32 pages and can be found at iaedp.com.
For more information about the iaedp™ Foundation and Advanced Certification for ED treatment, go to http://www.iaedp.com. About the iaedp™ Foundation: Since 1985, the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals has provided education and training standards to an international and multidisciplinary group of various healthcare treatment providers and helping professions. MemberSHARE.iaedp.com is an iaedp™ business journal and online member resource to learn about noteworthy member achievements, continuing education webinars and U.S. and international chapter activity and events; for more information, visit MemberSHARE.
The iaedp™ Foundation's Presidents Council, which provides organization support, includes: Center for Discovery; Center for Change; Center for Hope of the Sierras; Eating Recovery Center; Laureate Eating Disorders Program; McCallum Place Eating Disorder Centers; The Meadows Ranch; Rogers Behavioral
SOURCE IAEDP News
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