This co-occurring struggle is complicated, real, and there are very few resources available on the topic. Several years ago I was preparing for a talk on digestive disorders and eating disorders. I stumbled on a qualitative research study exploring the themes related to body image for people with chronic digestive health conditions. I was struck by what the researchers learned because the themes were so similar to what I hear about from my clients all the time: Difficulty trusting one’s body Feeling out of control in one’s body Unpredictable body function as a massive source of stress and anx ..read more

Today marks the first day of Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW) with this year’s theme, “Healing in Community.” Historically, during eating disorders (ED) awareness week, I’ve aimed my efforts at clinicians outside the ED profession. This year, I’m taking a different approach and speaking directly to those of us already treating EDs, because in order for healing to happen (and it does!), we have to remain committed to cleaning up shop. When we do better, more of our clients have a greater likelihood of attaining a meaningful recovery. Let me back up a bit. Over the past 4 weeks, I’ve been ..read more

We are pleased to announce that registration is open for Resilient Voices, a support group for folks who have both a chronic illness and are in eating disorder recovery. The group was developed and is led by Anita Dharwadkar, one of the Registered Dietitian Nutritionists here at Marci RD nutrition and she has a special message below about the program. This group was developed this group program for two main reasons… Living with a chronic illness is really, really hard. Being in eating disorder recovery only makes that harder. If you know this is something you want to be part o ..read more

If you’ve been reading my posts for a bit, you already know that each January (except when I’m on parental leave!) I post an annual book round-up. I share with you some of my favorite books from the previous year with a very quick blurb about how they made my heart sing. If you want to check out my complete list of books, please join me on ​Goodreads​! Ok, let’s get to it. (I am sharing these books based on the order I read them.) ​You are the One You’ve Been Waiting For: Bringing Courageous Love to Intimate Relationships​ by Richard Schwartz I absolutely loved this book. If you are a fan of o ..read more

There’s a change happening in my practice that fills me with a whole mixture of emotions. Christine Laker, who has worked with me since 2019 (and even before that as a graduate student and intern!) is spreading her wings and moving on to her own private practice. Christine remains the Regional Nutrition Manager for Renfrew (woot!) and will keep a small virtual practice, which you can learn more about here. Christine has been an incredible asset to my practice since day one. She is kind-hearted, driven to learn and grow, and fiercely committed to her clients. Christine is one of the most d ..read more

I love gift giving. And as someone who celebrates Christmas, gift giving is front of mind this time of year. But lately I’ve been reflecting a lot on the gifts that my clients have given me over the years and wanted to share a bit from my heart as we close out 2023. Over the past couple of months, I’ve been eyeball deep in a Pretty Big Project (PBJ). This PBJ has required that I dive into the literature on counseling strategies. In particular, Relational-Cultural Therapy (RCT), which has been one of the most informative therapeutic approaches to my work. RCT is a very special therapeutic frame ..read more

You can enjoy the holiday season as stress and symptom-free as possible. If you are reading this and struggle with an eating disorder (ED), chronic illness, or both, I am proud of you. You must manage countless challenges each and every day. EDs and chronic illnesses can be thought of as “invisible illnesses.” On the outside someone may appear perfectly fine, yet the inside tells a different story. If you relate, I see you and I hear you. In this article, I’m going to lay out some of the specific challenges that arise, particularly during the holiday season, and offer a couple of concrete tips ..read more

When students, interns, and dietitians ask me about what is required to get into the ED profession, I offer a couple of pieces of advice. The first is that you have to be willing to sacrifice time, energy, and money to specialize in eating disorders. It is a SPECIALTY, and it takes significant resources to become a specialist. The second is that excellent providers are humble and non-defensive enough to receive feedback. The flip side of learning is unlearning. And to provide weight-inclusive care as a dietitian requires just as much (maybe more?!) unlearning than it does learning. And to un ..read more

We need to end traumatic and destructive anti-fatness rooted racism, shame, and discrimination. I got so angry while at the Eating Disorders Research Society Conference in September of 2023. If you’ve been following my reels on Instagram (totally ok if you’re not), you may have seen me sharing some of my takeaways and highlights from the conference earlier this month. Most of my experience there was pretty fantastic. Listening to researchers share their research on how to expand treatment efficacy and access (yay!), support the integration of adaptive and healing exercise into treatment ..read more

We have very little research that explores the impact of more rare, chronic conditions on issues of food and body image healing. But I can tell you from both personal and professional experience, complex chronic illness takes a significant toll on both. That is why I am so passionate about educating and supporting others. There are many affects that poorly supported and treated chronic illness can have and here are 5 of the top ones: Erodes self and body trust Negatively impacts mental health Leaves you feeling isolated and alone Leaves you feeling gaslit by medical providers leading to quest ..read more