Eating Disorders Recovery in Athletes

Eating Disorders Treatment in Athletes & Sports with RDNs in the St. Louis Area, Missouri, and Illinois

Medical Nutrition Therapy for Athletes Struggling with Anorexia, Bulimia, Orthorexia, ARFID, Disordered Eating, and Other Eating Disorders

What are eating disorders in athletes?

Eating disorders can look different in the athletic population largely due to the extra physical demands and performance requirements of the sport. Because athletes are influencing the energy availability balance differently than the less active individuals, they have different nutrition requirements regardless if there is an eating disorder/disordered eating present.

Do athletes have a higher rate of eating disorders?

Do athletes have a higher rate of eating disorders?

Yes, the athletic population does have an increased risk of developing an eating disorder due to certain vulnerabilities such as…

  • Extra focus on the body as a vehicle for performance

  • Extra focus on food to fuel the body

  • Participating in a sport that is appearance-oriented

  • Drive to be “perfect” and “disciplined”

  • Poor coaching styles that are preoccupied with leanness

What sport is most likely to have an eating disorder?

Eating disorders can affect anyone and all athletes. However, research shows an increased risk for those participating in sports that have a focus on aesthetic, weight, and leanness. Some examples would be (but not limited to) dance, gymnastics, wrestling, swimming, endurance sports, bodybuilding, rowing, and so forth.

How to Prevent Eating Disorders in Athletes?

Preventing eating disorders in athletes requires a collaborative effort between coaches, families, and athletes themselves. Here are some tips for coaches and families:

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For Coaches:

  • Promote a body positive image

  • Provide education

  • Monitor training load

  • Create a supportive environment

  • Lead by example

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For Families:

  • Encourage balanced eating

  • Promote body positivity

  • Be attentive to changes (in your child’s weight, behaviors around food, and eating habits).

  • Communicate

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It is important to note that an individual who has dedicated themselves to a sport generally will take on the identity of an athlete. Therefore, athletes often strongly care about their body as a vehicle for their performance.

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If you believe you or someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder, seek professional support from a qualified healthcare professional, including a registered dietitian and mental health counselor.

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Our athletes are met with compassion to help find a balance with their health and performance. We provide online and in-person outpatient nutrition therapy. We believe recovery is possible. 

Treatment for Eating Disorders and/or Disordered Eating in Athletes

We provide eating disorder care for everyBODY. 

 

A dietitian nutritionist is a fundamental piece of your recovery team. As expert eating disorder dietitians in the St. Louis area, we work with patients to guide them toward healing their relationship with food and body. We offer virtual nutrition counseling, or face-to-face appointments in our Illinois and Missouri offices.

 

Here’s what you can expect:

Assessment and Individualized Planning

Athletes are considered a different population therefore, they have different nutritional needs than the general public. You will get support from a fitness dietitian who understands the unique nutrient needs for your sport and health.

Normalization of Eating Patterns

It is not always easy to balance a typical schedule with the additional demands of a sport. Work with a dietitian who will build personal game plans that fit your schedule, performance, and health. 

Nutritional Education

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Nutrition education is a big part of our recovery program. This can help you develop a better understanding of your unique athletic nutritional needs and foster a positive relationship with food. Food is more than just fuel.

Ongoing Support

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Ongoing support is essential throughout the treatment process. This may include regular check-ins with your ED dietitian to track progress, address challenges, and make any necessary adjustments to the nutrition plan. We recommend our ongoing recovery coaching.

Meal Planning and Food Challenges

Meal planning and exposure to feared foods or situations are often incorporated into treatment to help you overcome restrictive or binge-purge behaviors and develop a more flexible and balanced approach to eating.

Collaboration with Other Treatment Providers

We work closely with your interdisciplinary team of therapists, psychiatrists, and other members of the treatment team to ensure a coordinated approach to care. This may involve sharing progress reports, coordinating interventions, and addressing any underlying psychological issues that contribute to disordered eating behaviors.

Our goal is to help you restore your relationship with food and body, develop sustainable habits, and support you through your recovery process.

Branz Nutrition’s Treatments for Eating Disorders in Athletes

Wrestlers

Gymnasts

Runners

Males

Females

Our Team of Dietitian Nutritionists in the Greater St. Louis Area

Branz Nutrition Counseling is a team of certified eating disorder dietitians who provide compassionate care to those struggling with their relationship to food. Our approach is weight-inclusive, LGBTQIA+, and social justice-oriented, which means that we believe that everyone deserves access to quality care. 

 

We can’t wait to meet you!

With locations in Illinois and Missouri, we offer both virtual and in-person counseling sessions. And, we are licensed to provide Telehealth nutrition therapy to  patients around the country.

​Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Illinois | Missouri | New York | Texas | Virginia

We see clients in person in the St. Louis area, Missouri, Illinois, and from around the country via Telehealth. Learn more here.

Scroll to see the whole team.

How It Works – An Easy Three-Step Process to Get You on the Road to Recovery

Make An Appointment

What service do you need? We offer a range of appointments of different durations to best fit your needs.

Meet with your Personal Dietitian

Be paired with the dietitian nutritionist on our team and get continued support with one of our online groups. One-on-one counseling, in-person, or virtual. WE TAKE INSURANCE!

Take Control of Your Life

Heal your relationship with food and your body. Choose the best foods for your unique needs. Get the tools you need to live a healthy life. Receive continued support.

Note: In order to secure a spot on a dietitian’s schedule, we need a valid payment method on file.

Our Testimonials

Thank you for choosing us as the Best Dietitian Practice in STL (2023)

  • There have been times where my daughter will eat 4 bowls of carrots and turn down a cookie, and there have been times where she will want all the fruit snacks and nothing else, but it doesn’t stress me out because I know now that it’s just what her body wants in the moment. The information provided in your course not only helps my kids, but also opened my eyes to some of my own internal struggles around sugar and meal times!"

  • My sister Gifted this program to me and I'm so glad she did! I've already gotten so much out of watching the modules and reading the PDFs."

  • Understanding and implementing the Division of Responsibility in Feeding really takes the pressure off meal times. I love sitting down to enjoy dinner with my family and I hope it’s a memory my kids enjoy when they’re older too."

  • Also, againg, thank you for being so kind to "A". She usually does not like seeing "doctor like people", but she actually enjoys coming to see you, so that says a lot.

    by Mother of a Patient, Saint Louis, MO

  • I can't thank you enough for all you have done for us. I know we will continue to deal with food issues but at least I see hope. I honestly don't know how L(or myself) could have got through the past year without you. You literally are a lifesaver!! You are an amazing dietitian!!.

    by Mother of a Patient

  • Thank you for the caring devoted service and gentle compassion you have shown "S" over the years.

    by Mother of a Patient, Saint Louis, MO

  • I am truly grateful we found you to be he nutritionist. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

    by Mother of a Patient, Saint Louis, MO

  • "For most of my life, I have correlated the size of my body to being loved and accepted. The smaller I am, the more lovable and acceptable I am. Giving up the dieting, the rules, and the noise has given me the freedom to trust, appreciate and accept love from others as well as myself".

    by

  • I truly appreciate the encouragement and hearfelt, genuine concern you have for me. Your counsel and empathy have meant a great deal and helped keep me going during difficult times.

    by C, Saint Louis, MO

  • Thanks for helping me think about food differently and providing guidance regarding how to select carbs. Also, thanks for helping me recognize that the evolution would take several months to come to a 'new normal'.

    by E, Saint Louis, MO

We Accept Insurance

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Nutrition Blog & Latest News

Our team of Dietitians offers online support as well as in-person appointments in MO and IL.