Nutrition counseling, recognized by the APA (2000) and the ADA (1994), is essential for treating eating disorders. Registered dietitians (RDs) understand the link between food intake and overall health, enabling them to develop nutrition education and provide information on foods and formulas for families and healthcare professionals.

 

Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental and physical illnesses affecting people of all ages, genders, races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. National surveys indicate that about 20 million women and 10 million men in the US will develop an eating disorder at some point in their lives.

 

The exact cause of eating disorders is uncertain, but they are multifaceted conditions influenced by biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors.

 

For more information on diagnosis, risk factors, health consequences, and co-occurring disorders, visit the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) website.

 

Additional links to Eating Disorder-related websites include:

 

• Academy for Eating Disorders

• Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders

• The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders

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