What is Nutrition Therapy? Eating Disorder Treatment and more

If you are struggling with an eating disorder and/or digestive issues, it can be all-consuming and difficult to find support. There are a lot of options and a lot of practitioners in this space and it can be a challenge to decipher what the best option is for you. 

Eating disorders, disordered eating behaviors and digestive issues are complex. They present in a variety of ways and multiple factors are simultaneously at play. 

It isn’t just about eating, but also the behaviors, mindset, feelings about and relationships with food, your body, movement, yourself and others. Therefore, treatment needs to be holistic and personalized, addressing all of these aspects in a way that works for you. 

In this article, we'll look at:

• What is Nutrition Therapy?

• What does it look like in practice?

• Who provides Nutrition Therapy?

What is Nutrition Therapy?

Nutrition therapy is an approach to help you overcome challenges with food. It combines medical nutrition therapy and therapeutic modalities to treat eating disorders, disordered eating behaviors as well as GI issues, food allergies and intolerances. 

Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) involves specific, evidence-based nutrition interventions for medical conditions. The main goal of MNT is client education and empowerment, leading to sustainable nutrition and eating behaviors.

In nutrition therapy for eating disorders, MNT is used in combination with therapeutic modalities to holistically address the psychological, behavioral and lifestyle factors that affect eating patterns. 

Therapeutic modalities include motivational interviewing, Exposure and Response Prevention, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and more.

• Motivational interviewing - allow the client/ patient to play an active role in their treatment and recovery by connecting to their own motivation (1)

• Exposure and response prevention - addresses eating-related fear and anxiety, with an emphasis on ritual prevention and exposure to anxiety-inducing stimuli and situations (2)

• Cognitive behavioral therapy - highly individualized treatment that addresses how thoughts, feelings and behaviors contribute to an eating disorder / disordered eating behaviors (3)

  
  

What does nutrition therapy and eating disorder treatment look like in practice?

If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out my article What does an eating disorder dietitian do? Part 1 and Part 2. 

Dietitians play a very key role in nutrition therapy as they must consider the psychological aspects of EDs and disordered eating complementary to the nutritional aspects (4). We look at eating not in isolation, but in the context of your history, your relationships and your life. In addition, lab work/ medical tests may make sense to determine your current physical condition. 

We also work with your therapist and other team members to ensure care is cohesive, collaborative and effective. 

In nutrition therapy, dietitian nutritionists work with you to not only address eating behaviors, but also search for the root of where these behaviors come from. Understanding the ‘why’ can give clients more control and also help develop treatments for recovery and sustainable change. 

Nutrition therapy happens in stages. First building a foundation through nutrition assessment, then experimenting through nutrition intervention and monitoring and the therapy evolves with you, until eventually meetings occur less often and finally treatment comes to an end.

Nutrition assessment looks at how you are eating and your history. This includes evaluating the things that got you here and your present experiences with food, eating, body and movement. This can look different for everyone, but generally includes a look at your sleep, stress, digestive issues and defining your goals and developing strategies for you.

You will be supported through experimentation with interventions. These interventions are personalized based on your goals and evolve throughout the process, depending on what works and what doesn’t. You work closely with your dietitian, and also often in concert with a psychologist or mental health professional, your general practitioner and/or other health care professionals. Interventions continue in between sessions and support from your treatment team can be as often and extensive as you need.  

Finally, as you feel more confident around food and your body and are standing stably on solid ground in recovery or with improved lab work/ medical tests. 

Who provides Nutrition Therapy?

You are not alone in your journey to eating disorder recovery. Similarly, eating disorder care isn’t provided by one practitioner alone. 

Searching for the right eating disorder support can feel overwhelming. Nutrition therapy is a great place to start. Search for dietitians and nutritionists with trustworthy credentials, training and experience in the field of nutrition therapy and eating disorders. 

The US credential Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) are a great resource, as well as the German certified Ernährungsberater*innen from the DGE, VDD, VDOE and QUETHEB.

Holistic nutrition therapy and nutrition counseling can be carried out by a team of health care professionals. Inquire about a practitioner’s interest and experience in collaborating as a member of a treatment team. This can include a dietitian/nutritionist, mental health provider/therapist, psychiatrist, general practitioner or Hausarzt, occupational therapist and recovery coach, among others.

Your team is made of more than just health care professionals. Your family, friends, partner, parents, peers all play a role in your recovery and serve as your support throughout the nutrition therapy process and beyond. 

As a registered dietitian with 10+ years in eating disorder treatment, I will support you on this journey. Learn more about my approach to nutrition therapy, rooted in curiosity, humor, evidence, and compassion. 

If you are ready to seek help or if you know someone who could benefit from speaking to an eating disorder dietitian, contact me. You can also directly schedule a free 30 minute intro call with me. 

Eating disorder recovery is complex and can be overwhelming. But you are not alone and you are worthy. 

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Sources

1. Macdonald, P., Hibbs, R., Corfield, F., & Treasure, J. (2012). The use of motivational interviewing in eating disorders: A systematic review. Psychiatry Research, 200(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2012.05.013

2. Steinglass JE, Albano AM, Simpson HB, Wang Y, Zou J, Attia E, Walsh BT. Confronting fear using exposure and response prevention for anorexia nervosa: A randomized controlled pilot study. Int J Eat Disord. 2014 Mar;47(2):174-80. doi: 10.1002/eat.22214. Epub 2013 Nov 8. PMID: 24488838; PMCID: PMC3927538.

3. A Description of CBT‑E. (n.d.). CBT‑E. Retrieved July 25, 2025, from https://www.cbte.co/what-is-cbte/a-description-of-cbt-e/

4. Jeffrey, S., Heruc, G. Balancing nutrition management and the role of dietitians in eating disorder treatment. J Eat Disord 8, 64 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-020-00344-x