How to Become a Dietitian For Anorexia
Eating disorders are becoming increasingly common. As Registered Dietitians, the knowledge that the prevalence of eating disorders has over doubled since 2006 is incredibly concerning. It shows how bad the public’s relationship with nutrition has become, probably due to the rise of social media, fad diets, and plenty of other negative trends. This has many of us RDs feeling a longing to do something.
If you’re an RD wanting to niche down to help women with eating disorders like anorexia, you are an incredible person! It takes a big person to work with something as high stakes and complex as anorexia. I am sure your calling comes from somewhere deep and moral, and I support you in every way. In this post, I am going to help you understand how you become an eating disorder dietitian specializing in anorexia as an RD and how you can start helping those you are called to serve.
How to Become a Dietitian For Anorexia
In this post, we’ll first discuss what anorexia is so you know exactly what you’re getting into, then we’re going to jump into the steps to becoming an anorexia dietitian. If you decide that you’re interested in working in the eating disorder field in a broader sense, here’s how to become an eating disorder dietitian.
What Is Anorexia?
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder where people severely restrict their food intake to the point it leads to extreme weight loss and malnutrition. Usually, develop this disorder out of an intense fear of gaining weight due to a distorted body image. They view themselves as overweight, even when the opposite is true and they're dangerously underweight. Sometimes, these individuals excessively exercise as well as participate in dangerous eating behaviors to continue to drop weight despite the medical seriousness of what they’re doing.
I don’t need to tell you this, but anorexia nervosa can be devastating to a person’s health. It can lead to heart problems, bone loss, muscle loss, gastrointestinal issues, hormone imbalances, kidney damage, skin and hair changes, infertility, and even death. Getting help is essential, and it takes a village! They often need a multidisciplinary eating disorder treatment team with the care of a psychiatrist, therapist, and, of course, a Registered Dietitian!
How to Become an Anorexia Dietitian
Step One: Get to know the disorder more intimately.
I took time to explain anorexia in detail, because it’s so important that you understand the disorder deeply. Before jumping into a specialty, do lots of research on anorexia nervosa to learn about it from all angles—not just nutritionally, but also psychologically, behaviorally, and medically. The more you know, the more certain you can be of your calling and the better equipped you are to provide the nutrition counseling they’ll need.
Step Two: Gain plenty of experience in the field wherever you can.
Though lots of research is a great first step, we all know as RD that nutrition is about PEOPLE. To be a good RD and expand your knowledge, you need to understand the disorder beyond the textbooks and medical studies. So, try to get out and start working with people struggling with anorexia in any capacity. That may mean volunteering for a non-profit, working in a clinic that treats eating disorders, getting a job in the field, or even just getting to know people in advocacy or support groups. The better you know the people behind anorexia, the better you can serve those struggling with an eating disorder.
Step Three: Get specialized certifications.
So far, what we’ve talked about is very personal, but now it’s time to develop that professional resume. To become an RD specialized in eating disorders (namely anorexia), you need to get additional RD certifications relevant to eating disorder recovery. These advanced qualifications will help your dreamy clients feel confident you can help them with their needs!
Below are some certifications you could look into. The most relevant ones come from the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (IAEDP) or the Academy of Eating Disorders (AED).
Certified Eating Disorders Registered Dietitian (CEDRD)
Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS)
Board Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition (CSP) - if working with minors
Intuitive Eating Counselor Certification
Step Four: Choose CPEUs intentionally.
As you get into your required continuing education requirements as an RD, try to choose CPEUs that are relevant to your niche. There are lots of workshops, online courses, conferences, webinars, self-study programs and more that will help you refine your skills as an RD specializing in anorexia. This way, with each round of continuing education, you can be an even better RD for your dreamy clients.
Step Five: Open an online private practice.
Are there RD positions out there that specialize in anorexia at clinics for those with eating disorders? Yes. But, these positions are VERY hard to come by. Beyond that, even an RD job in your ideal field will have the same downsides as every other RD job . . . you’ll likely feel overworked, underappreciated, and underpaid.
However, if you open your own online private practice, you can develop the specialized career you really want. You’ll have the freedom to live where you want, work when you want, make what you want, and, most importantly, help the people you want in the way you want. Basically with a private nutrition business, it’s all up to you, allowing you to create a career that’s truly FULFILLING and IMPACTFUL.
Think about it? You’ll gain access to people all over the world that may need your help, rather than being confined to a certain geographical location or insurance network. That’s powerful! There are millions out there who need your help, and you can reach them while cultivating the work-life balance you genuinely deserve. For more on this, check out the benefits of starting an online practice as an RD.
Step Six: Niche down to help those with anorexia.
When you open your own private practice, you can get as specific with your niche as possible. So, whereas a lot of RD positions are going to focus on eating disorders as a whole, if you feel called to help specifically those with anorexia nervosa, you can do that. (But, since it’s your own business, you don’t have to feel bound to it either. You can branch out to help others with different needs whenever you want.)
To successfully narrow your niche as an RD, consider things like how to specialize your program, how to curate your marketing messaging, and other details about your business plan. If you want to reach those specifically with anorexia nervosa, everything about your model needs to serve them and their unique pain points.
Step Seven: Hire a dietitian business coach.
Starting a private practice is intimidating, to say the least. Whether you are just starting out or you’ve been working at it for a while, there’s simply a LOT to know. You’re nutrition experts, not business experts! To help you get the most out of your efforts and build the successful practice of your dreams, I recommend you hire a dietitian business coach like me!
A dietitian business coach knows the nuances of the nutrition field intimately and can help you best utilize your skills to reach those clients that desperately need you. I don’t want you struggling for years to get your business off the ground when you could be helping your dreamy clients now and making a huge impact on public health. So, apply to work with me, and we can make this happen. (Here are more reasons to hire a nutrition business coach, in case you’re still deciding if it’s right for you!).
Step Eight: Reach your audience and change lives.
When talking about eating disorders, there’s a tremendous sense of urgency. Your potential clients need you NOW. It’s time to become a Registered Dietitian specializing in anorexia and start taking steps to build a practice that serves those who truly need it most.
Embrace your calling and become a Registered Dietitian for anorexia.
We already know that the field of nutrition is important for public health, but this is especially true when dealing with eating disorders. If you feel led to help people struggling with disordered eating, then I saw pursue that with everything you’ve got! Those people need your passion, expertise, and empathy to help them through one of the most difficult hurdles they’ll ever face! I’m wishing you all the luck on this incredible journey you’re on.