Eating Disorders in the Dietetics Profession: Risk vs Reward

by Michelle Wilson BS, DTR

          Certainly, many of you have seen the position papers and research

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

 pointing out the increased prevalence in eating disorders, previous or current, and disordered eating behaviors in dietetics students and professionals. Orthorexia nervosa, though it is not an official diagnosis in the DSM-V is a growing concern for those who major in nutrition. Previous eating disorders motivated some to choose the career path of dietetics. With this prevalence, we must ask ourselves what we believe about this concern and why.

Dietetic internships are highly competitive. Should a student with an active eating disorder be accepted into an internship? If this is brought up during a DICAS interview, should it be seen as a good or bad trait? Do dietitians with previous eating disorders benefit their field or serve as a risk?

First- let us look to the community to find out. I asked a popular Facebook ED (eating disorder) community what they thought about a dietitian who has recovered from an eating disorder working with ED clients. The responses were overwhelmingly positive. To preface, most people emphasized their RD (Registered Dietitian) should be fully recovered and to make sure any self-disclosures are to the benefit of the patient. Mostly, people said the not only accepted it, they preferred it! They felt their dietitian understood what they were going through and knew the head games the patients might try to play. Some even mentioned how their RD having overcome an ED was an inspiration and seeing a professional fully recovered helped them feel recovery was possible.

Next- the professionals. Out of the Facebook members, some said they were RDs or dietetics students who overcame eating disorders. The RDs said they felt their clients found them “more relatable.” One said she did not feel as though her previous ED ever negatively impacts her work. One of the students said the RDs she worked with who were recovered understood more than a dietitian who has not had an ED in their past. A dietitian I spoke with whom is associated with Saint Louis University noted two main concerns regarding this topic: undiagnosed eating disorders and relapses. She emphasized the tendency of students and dietitians to have beliefs which could be considered orthorexic, or obsessively healthy, and the importance of being diagnosed with an ED to address these concerns. She said, “recovery is a process, not an end point.” Even though an RD may be recovered from an eating disorder, working directly with an ED population may be triggering and requires honest self-reflection. With this in mind, she says she “love(s) that we’re able to use those struggles to help people in this field.”

My family and I at the NEDA Walk

Finally- I think we should all take a moment to think how we want to be seen as professionals. Do we want to be accepting and encouraging for those recovering to pursue a career in dietetics? Or do we want to be so worried about the possibility of negatively impacting clients we rob them of the opportunity of an RD who “gets them.” I, for one, think we NEDA take a walk on the wild side and give them a chance!