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PRESENTATION INFO
Breakout Session Two:
Unintended Consequences of “Healthy” Eating and Exercise Education
SPEAKER: Alison St. Germain MS, RD, LD, CEDS
Description:
Healthcare professionals and fitness and wellness enthusiasts routinely discuss nutrition, weight, and exercise with patients/clients in an effort to improve health outcomes. However, common recommendations such as "eat this, not that," "cut carbs," "avoid sugar," “reduce processed foods” or "exercise more" can have unintended consequences, particularly for individuals with existing or undiagnosed eating disorders.
Objectives:
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Explore common nutrition, weight, and exercise recommendations that may unintentionally reinforce or exacerbate disordered eating behaviors.
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Recognize signs and symptoms of eating disorders and disordered exercise behaviors that may be overlooked in healthcare settings, including among individuals who do not present as "underweight".
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Describe the potential psychological, behavioral, and physiological consequences of restrictive nutrition and weight-focused counseling approaches.
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Apply weight-inclusive, trauma-informed communication strategies that promote health-supportive behaviors while reducing the risk of harm to individuals with existing or undiagnosed eating disorders.
MEET THE MONTE NIDO TEAM
Sr. Regional Outreach Manager | Midwest:
Liz Farnam
Direct: (773) 630-5612
Admissions: (888) 228-1253
Monte Nido is a national mental health provider committed to eradicating eating disorders by offering industry-leading care to adults and adolescents of all genders in a healing environment. Our clinically comprehensive, research-backed treatment in inpatient, residential, day and virtual treatment programs show exceptional outcomes. Our clients get well and stay well. Founded in 1996, our expert staff of eating disorder professionals deliver compassionate care, breakthrough outcomes, and long-term recovery for our clients. Monte Nido operates over 50 virtual and in-person programs across 28 states within our family of programs: Monte Nido, Monte Nido Walden, Monte Nido Rosewood, and Monte Nido Clementine. For more information, visit montenido.com.
MEET THE SPEAKER
Alison St. Germain MS, RD, LD, CEDS
Alison St. Germain is a Registered Dietitian at Student Health and Wellness and the founder of St. Germain Consulting: Redefining Health—Nutrition for ALL Bodies, LLC. With a background in higher education, Alison has dedicated much of her career to teaching and advocating for healthcare without harmful stigma. She is a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, and a Health At Every Size® (HAES) Facilitator. Alison is passionate about promoting diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible care. Alison regularly presents on weight bias and best practices for supporting individuals in a compassionate and stigma-free way. Her personal experience as a mother of two daughters fuels her commitment to weight inclusivity, anti-diet approaches, and raising awareness about eating disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery.
