Background: Recent advances in neurobiological research provide expanded insight into the influence of eating disorders on nutritional state and food selection. Nutrition interventions affect brain response upon application creating critical, primary foundations from which behavioral interventions can help shape neuropathways during healing. Presenters will outline the impact of eating disorders on neurobiological circuitry including the provision and consumption of nutrition, highlighting the differences among eating disorder diagnoses. Neurobiological research will be applied to the nutrition care process highlighting treatment design strategies and interventions through a brain-based lens. Participants will utilize Nominal Group Technique to apply concepts to bridge the research-practice gap.
Objectives: 1. at least 2 differences in brain circuitry between individuals with and without eating disorders as well as among several eating disorder diagnoses 2. at least one strategy for applying neurobiological principles to the nutrition care process 3. 2 tools to apply neurobiological principles to clinical practice
- Introduction & Disclosures
- Review of neurological regions involved in food selection/eating (new research presented during each section)
- Brain circuitry in non-eating disordered individuals
- Brain circuitry in disorders of over-control with eating-anorexia nervosa
- Brain circuitry in disorders of under-control with eating-bulimia nervosa & binge-eating disorder
- Application of neurobiology to feeding strategies & protocols
- How should we approach feeding those with eating disorders differently now
- How much structure to individuals with EDs need and how does it change throughout treatment
- How far into recovery should structure be in place
- How do clinicians explain these complex concepts to the individual with an eating disorder and their community of support
- How do clinicians design group feeding programs with these concepts in mind
- Nominal Group Technique
- Divide into work groups
- Establish timing and ground rules
- Groups brainstorm and prioritize ideas for applying new knowledge to practice
- Groups share top priority ideas with the whole workshop
- Presenters record all priority ideas into a document for participants to take home
- Questions and Conclusions
Leah Graves is Vice President of Nutrition and Culinary Services for Veritas Collaborative and has been treating patients with eating disorders for over 30 years. She received her Bachelor of Science in Clinical Dietetics, with highest distinction, from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Leah is a founding member of the Academy for Eating Disorders and served on the Academy’s Executive Committee, Board of Directors and was honored as a Fellow in the Academy for Eating Disorders. She is highly respected within the eating disorders field for her expertise in medical nutrition therapy, nutrition counseling, clinical supervision, and research.
Dr. Laura Hill is the CEO of The Center for Balanced Living in Columbus, Ohio. She is the recipient of the National Eating Disorders Association 2011 Lori Irving Award and was a TEDx Columbus speaker in 2012. She was Director of The National Eating Disorder Association from 1990 to 1994.
