When Food Hurts: The Crossroads of Gastrointestinal and Eating Disorders

A disordered relationship with food frequently occurs in individuals who experience negative gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms from eating, while up to 75% of individuals with eating disorders meet criteria for functional gut disorders. Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder are increased in the GI patient population, and a newly categorized feeding disorder avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is now being investigated in adults and children with GI disorders.

In this session, participants will learn how to identify eating disorders and disordered eating patterns in individuals with GI disorders and identify how they present in non-psychiatric settings. They will be able to differentiate between GI symptoms that result from disordered eating and those that are not related. They will also gain both medical nutrition therapy and counseling skills in order to treat these difficult co-occurring disorders, including weight restoration, food exposure, and motivational interviewing.

Planned with the Dietitians in Medical Nutrition Therapy Dietetic Practice Group.

CPE level: Level 2
CPEU: 1.0

Performance Indicators

• 8.1.5 Applies medical nutrition therapy in disease prevention and management.
• 8.2.3 Implements individualized services to reflect customer-centered approach as it pertains to the customer's physical, social, cultural, institutional and economic environment.
• 9.6.1 Determines and applies counseling theories, psychological methods and strategies that empower customers to make changes.

Learning Objectives

• Identify eating disorder risk in individuals with GI disorders
• Utilize medical nutrition therapy for treatment of co-occurring disorders
• Utilize counseling techniques for treatment of co-occurring disorders

Speakers

• Janelle Smith
• Kelli Rugless