Understanding

Eating Disorders

WHAT IS AN EATING DISORDER SPECIALIST?

A registered dietitian is an expert who can assess, diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional problems. A dietitian can give you an accurate, personal nutrition plan to improve health and fight disease. Our dietitians will learn about your health, diet and exercise habits and then help you set goals to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

WHAT DOES AN EATING DISORDER SPECIALIST DO?

Tanner Clinic dietitians work with patients who have eating disorders or feeding disorders. A dietitian is qualified to write meal plans and give guidance to patients with various diseases in order to help them improve their health status. Some people without a disease may request guidance from a dietitian in order to prevent diseases. This is especially true for those who have a family history of the diseases mentioned above. Many people also consult a dietitian for sports nutrition.

Our dietitians work alongside your doctor to help you achieve your health goals. They will track your progress as a team to make sure you are achieving maximum results in order to help you improve your health status.

Areas of Expertise in Our Care

Undesirable weight loss
Diabetes
Gestational diabetes
PCOS
Fatty liver
Food allergies
Celiac disease

Meet Our Providers

Ali Girten, MS, RD, LDN, CD
East Layton
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

EJ Hackett-Nelson, EdS, CMHC
East Layton
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Tara Silvester, RDN
East Layton
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Malisa Lemon, LCSW, RPT
East Layton
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Aspyn Taylor, CSW
East Layton
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Calene Van Noy, RDN
East Layton
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Rebecka Williams, CSW
East Layton
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF AN EATING DISORDER SPECIALIST?

A registered dietitian is a person who has a college degree and has qualified for and passed the national exam by The American Dietetic Association. Once they accomplish that they become a registered dietitian nutritionist, or RDN. To maintain a registered status with this national organization they must receive 75 hours of continuing education every five years after the exam has been passed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is eating disorder therapy?

Eating Disorder therapy is a process that helps reduce/eliminate health harming behavior, identify the function of health harming eating and exercise behavior, as well as increase personal insight and alternative healthy coping strategies.

What is health harming behavior?

Examples of health harming behavior and beliefs that may be addressed include restricting food intake, over eating, binge eating, purging behavior, diet pill or laxative abuse, over exercise, obsessive ‘clean’ eating, yo-yo dieting, and negative body image.

What does an eating disorder therapist do?

Eating Disorder Specialists can also help those with an unhealthy relationship with food or exercise, even if they do not meet diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder. Treatment is most successful in conjunction with a multidisciplinary team including a dietitian and medical monitoring by a Primary care provider.