Speaker: Tala Abdallah
Target Audience:
- Registered Dietitians & Nutritionists working in clinical, or outpatient settings.
- Dietetic students & recent graduates looking to build a foundation in ED
treatment.
- Healthcare professionals collaborating with dietitians (e.g., OT, SLT, PTs) who
want to understand the dietitian’s role in ED care.
Aim
To provide dietitians with the foundational knowledge and practical skills needed
to recognize, assess, and support clients with eating disorders (EDs) and disordered
eating.
Workshop Outcomes
1- Recognize the signs of eating disorders & disordered eating in clients, and
understand when to refer to a specialist.
2- Apply screening & assessment techniques to identify disordered eating
behaviors early in nutrition counseling.
3- Implement practical interventions that help clients improve their relationship
with food without reinforcing harmful dieting behaviors.
Workshop Outline
1. Understanding Eating Disorders & Disordered Eating
• Difference between eating disorders & disordered eating
• Key misconceptions
• Overview of common EDs (Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating
Disorder, ARFID, OSFED)
• The role of diet culture and its impact on ED development
2. Screening & Assessment: What Every Dietitian Needs to Know
• How to identify ED symptoms in clients (red flags beyond weight loss)
• Key questions to ask in an initial assessment
• The importance of collaborating with psychologists & medical professionals
• When to refer out or adjust treatment goals
3. The Role of the Dietitian in ED Treatment
• What’s the Dietitian’s Role vs. the Psychologist’s Role?
• Why a weight-neutral, non-diet approach is key
• Addressing fear foods, restriction, and binge cycles without reinforcing ED
thoughts
• What to say vs what NOT to say
4. Interventions & Meal Support Strategies
• How to help clients rebuild a balanced relationship with food
• Practical strategies for reintroducing fear foods & reducing food rules
• Meal planning without rigidity or diet mentality
• Addressing body image struggles in a nutrition session
• Handling Resistance & Food Anxiety
5. Case Studies & Q&A
• Real-life case studies to discuss interventions
• Open Q&A for dietitians to share challenges & questions