Nutrition Therapy for Anorexia in
Santa Barbara, CA
Also serving online throughout California and beyond
What is Anorexia?
What is Anorexia?
Anorexia Nervosa is a mental illness characterized by refusal to maintain a weight within a range that is safe and nutritionally stable for the individual, as well as an intense preoccupation with weight and body size/shape and fear of weight gain.
Though it is officially given a separate diagnosis, “Atypical Anorexia” where an individual presents in a body that is considered within (or even higher than) expected weight range for height, is just as concerning of an illness. These individuals still refuse to consume enough calories to support their day-to-day body functions and maintain the same intense body weight/size/shape preoccupation. Anorexia is not simply “dieting” but a real, complex illness that involves social, genetic, environmental and psychological factors, requiring the right treatment to achieve long-term healing.
What are signs and symptoms of Anorexia?
Signs of Anorexia:
-Restriction of caloric intake relative to requirements, leading to a significant low body weight in the context of the age, sex, developmental trajectory, and physical health (not the case in “Atypical Anorexia”)
-Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat or persistent behavior that interferes with weight gain.
-Disturbed by one’s body weight or shape, self-worth influenced by body weight or shape, or persistent lack of recognition of seriousness of low bodyweight.
-Potential symptoms: Frequently cold, dizziness/fainting, irregular menstruation or loss of menses, dry skin and nails, easy bruising, hair loss/development of hair on body for warmth, constipation, vomiting, potential periods of binge eating or other compulsive behavior, anxiety, depression
How can Amy help provide nutrition support &
meal planning for Anorexia as an
Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian Nutritionist in
Santa Barbara?
How can Amy help?
Amy works with clients with Anorexia by first coming to know them as complex individuals with their own wishes, desires, fears, and needs. Despite clients often wrestling with a starving brain, Amy believes each client possesses the ability to cultivate a sense of self, and works to provide nutrition support through meal planning and weight restoration where indicated, while also exploring resistances to nourishment and treatment.
Eating Disorder Treatment in Santa Barbara, CA
Santa Barbara has always held a special place in the hearts of those fortunate enough to live their and those who visit. With its pristine beaches, vibrant active outdoor life, quiet enclaves, and bustling downtown, Santa Barbara has something for everyone. It is also the home of University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB), Santa Barbara City College (SBCC), Westmont, and several other higher education preparatory schools. With such a large influx of young people, the city also finds its population at higher risk for developing eating disorders like anorexia. The stressors of college life coupled with new social challenges, substance use, and living away from home, often for the first time, can all contribute to the development of eating disorder behaviors.
On top of that, the thriving athletic life at these institutions can also be a risk factor for eating disorder behaviors, in order to maintain a sport-specific physique or weight. Amy particularly enjoys working with college students at this stage of life who are rapidly expanding their understanding of the world around them and exploring their sense of self, processes that are wrapped up in eating disorder work and developing a solid nutritional base.
Amy offers nutrition therapy for anorexia throughout California and beyond
Amy offers convenient and accessible virtual therapy services across the entire state of California, providing support to individuals in both urban and rural areas. Whether you're located in Morro Bay, Los Osos, Paso Robles, Atascadero, San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mailbu, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Francisco, Monterey, San Jose, Sacramento, Marin, or further out in communities like Redding, Chico, Bakersfield, Fresno, San Diego, Riverside, or even Eureka, services are just a click away. Amy is dedicated to offering individualized care, meeting clients they are in their recovery journeys, and helping navigate eating disorder challenges with the flexibility of online nutrition therapy from the comfort of your home.