A review study published in 2014 JAND found 20 studies that used Intuitive Eating as an intervention to improve psychological and physical well-being. Positive changes in eating habits, body image and lifestyle were noted. Improved psychological "health" sustained as long as two years. As a highlight, there was also an average 92% completion rates for those who participated in the studies. Why doesn’t diet search have this level of completion/success rate?...

Overall, studies that encourage individuals to eat intuitively help participants abandon unhealthy weight control behaviors, improve metabolic fitness, increase body satisfaction and improve psychological distress. Interventions should focus only on modifiable behaviors where there is evidence that such modification will improve health. Weight is not a behavior and therefore not an appropriate target for behavior modification. Interventions should meet ethical standards. They should focus on health, not weight and should be referred to as "health promotion" and not marketed as "obesity prevention."

As individuals are exposed to anti-fat biases, explicit and implicit, they begin to internalize those biases. The internalization of weight bias contributes negative health outcomes. Those living in larger bodies struggle daily against a society that sees their size as a moral and personal defect.

Treatment planning starts with the level of care necessary to manage symptoms and provide the most effective and safe treatment setting for successful resolve of symptoms. In determining a patient's level of care or whether a change to a different level of care is appropriate, it is important to consider the patient's overall physical condition, psychological factors, behaviors and social circumstances rather than simply rely on one or more physical parameters, such as weight.

Screening tools include

• Compulsive Exercise Test
• Beck Depression Inventory – PHQ-9
• Beck Anxiety Inventory – GAD-7
• Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation – BSS
• EAT-26

Speaker

Theresa Carmichal, RDN
National Dietary & Operations Specialist for Center for Discovery Owner of the Carmichael Clinic
Incoming Chair of the Behavioral Health Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group for the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics Advisory Board Member for San Diego State University Didactic Program in Dietetics

Theresa Carmichael, RDN earned her Bachelor's of Science in Foods & Nutrition from San Diego State University. Shortly after graduation she was accepted to a dietetic internship through the University of Nevada Las Vegas with an emphasis in Clinical Nutrition. Ms. Carmichael has been working with adults and adolescents via behavioral health nutrition in all levels of care at Center for Discovery since 2014. She has found a passion working with clients of all ages struggling with a variety of mental health and eating disorders diagnosis. Ms. Carmichael has been featured in multiple mental health blogs, professional speaking events, articles and podcasts on her work with body inclusivity and nutritional treatment modalities. She is responsible for training Center for Discovery's treatment teams across the country in the treatment of disordered eating alongside the rest of the Operations Team. Ms. Carmichael continues to serve patients one to one in her private practice located in San Diego, California while also serving as an Advisory Board Member for the Didactic Program in Dietetics at San Diego State University. Ms. Carmichael is also now incoming Chair of the Behavioral Health Nutrition DPG with the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics.