adolescent nutrition therapy

At be Collaborative Care, we believe in whole-body nourishment.

Through comprehensive nutrition therapy, we help adolescents untangle the web of emotions and eating patterns in order to nourish themselves fully, while also working with parents to ensure a full understanding of treatment and our approach to care. Let us help guide you or your adolescent through the challenges associated with teen eating disorders.

Identifying Eating Disorders in Teens

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to know when your teen is struggling with nutrition or facing an eating disorder. There are many misconceptions about what an eating disorder looks like due to stereotypes found in the media, television, and films, which in turn means adolescents are sometimes able to hide their struggles from family and friends. While eating disorders affect each individual differently, there are many common symptoms to watch out for, including:

 

  • Obsession with body weight or shape

  • Sudden or constant dieting

  • Secretive behavior around eating

  • Preoccupation with calories

  • Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities

  • Use of diet pills or laxatives

  • Obsession with exercise

  • Unexplained weight loss

  • Bathroom visits immediately after meals

Potential Causes of Teen Eating Disorders

Adolescents are under constant pressure to fit in, influenced by the media, friends, family, and the world around them. While there’s no one cause for eating disorders, this pressure combined with genes, environment, and even internal battles with co-occurring mental health conditions, all play a part. It’s important to recognize if and when your teen has been facing these pressures, if they have experienced a traumatic event or bullying, or if they are trapped in a competitive pattern with peers. Identifying potential causes can be key to early detection and prompt treatment.

Treatment Approach Focused on Nutrition

At be Collaborative Care, we’re changing the way adolescents think about their bodies through proper nutrition therapy. We know it’s not about the food, but is all about the food at the same time. Our team of eating-disorder-specialized Registered Dietitians explain not just the “what” but the “why” behind the nutritional guidance clients receive, addressing complex issues related to eating recovery while offering educational insights into the science of food, the body, and of proper nourishment.

Rediscovering the Joy of Food

Sessions with our dietitian are a place where individuals can truthfully share struggles, ask lots of questions, and begin to rebuild their perspectives about food. This isn’t about having a meal plan forced upon you or counting calories and macros, nor do we encourage self-imposed rules and rigidity that affect one’s mindset. It’s about enjoying meals again, with the help of a comprehensive team that untangles the roots between food, eating, and emotion. Our goal with proper adolescent nutrition therapy is to ensure our clients:

    • Become better educated about their bodies
    • Understand the importance of proper nutrition
    • Overcome stigmas about body image

    • Learn to prepare their own nutritious meal plans

    • Have a healthy relationship with food

    • Are able to make nutritiously sound selections