Nutrition Therapy

Bariatric Surgery

Successful achievement and maintenance of weight loss goals with bariatric surgery happens when long-term dietary and lifestyle changes are made.

Health insurance plans require one-on-one nutrition counseling BEFORE bariatric surgery. However, medical nutrition therapy is also highly recommended AFTER surgery. Individuals who receive and adhere to pre- and post-bariatric surgical nutrition, psychological and lifestyle counseling statistically lose and keep off more weight than those who do not seek dietary and behavior modification guidance.

One-on-one nutrition counseling is provided BEFORE and AFTER laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, vertical sleeve gastrectomy, and roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgeries. Patients have more success achieving and maintaining weight loss with multiple counseling sessions BEFORE surgery, and continued counseling for months and years following surgery. Healthy lifestyles education is the key to weight control.

Diabetes Education

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the National Institute of Health (NIH), more than 1 in 10 United States residents have diabetes. Diabetes affects an individual for life. Diabetes can lead to serious and life-threatening health conditions, including amputation, blindness, birth defects, heart disease, kidney damage, nerve damage, physical and/or mental disability, pregnancy with complications, stroke, coma and death.

Metabolic syndrome is a leading cause of diabetes.

Metabolic syndrome is a combination of three or more of the following conditions:

• A large waistline or excess fat in the stomach area
• Insulin resistance or high fasting blood sugar
• High triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood)
• Low HDL or good cholesterol
• high blood pressure

Medical nutrition therapy and lifestyle education, physical activity, medication, and regular doctor check-ups can:

• control blood sugar highs and lows
• bring fasting and after-meal blood sugars closer to normal ranges
• slow down the worsening of diabetes
• protect important organs from being devastated by the disease

Reliance on medication alone is NOT enough to stop diabetes from getting worse and causing damage to the body.

Dietary and lifestyle education focuses on teachings that emphasize healthy food choices, food preparation, timing of meals and physical activity. Other lifestyle habits are also examined to help each individual achieve improved blood sugar control, body weight and other important health goals.

Our counseling services have helped many individuals improve blood sugar control, manage weight, and reduce the risk of damaging effects of diabetes. Seeking help early and often can help with managing this progressive and potentially life devastating condition.

Digestive Health

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH) report that gastrointestinal disorders affect millions of individuals in the United States Nutrition and overall health and welfare of individuals with gastrointestinal problems can suffer if the condition is not treated.

Medical nutrition therapy may work to prevent some gastrointestinal diseases and/or reverse the underlying causes of some digestive ailments. In addition to doctor visits and medication, nutrition counseling can help patients reduce or alleviate the discomfort of many conditions.

Gastrointestinal diseases that may be treated with medical nutrition therapy include, but are limited to, the following:

• Acid Reflux (Gastroesophageal Reflux/Heartburn)
• Cancer – Stomach, Small Bowel and Colon
• Celiac Disease and Gluten Insensitivity
• Constipation
• Colitis
• Crohn's Disease
• Diarrhea
• Diverticulosis/Diverticulitis
• Dry Mouth
• Feeding and Swallowing Difficulty
• Gallbladder Disease (Gallstones and Gallbladder Surgery)
• Gastritis
• Gastroparesis
• Hemorrhoids
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Indigestion
• Liver Disease (Fatty Liver and Other Diseases)
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Pancreatitis
• Short Bowel Syndrome

Eating Disorders

Nutrition counseling may help to identify disordered eating patterns, and physical and emotional disorders related to, or resulting in or from eating disorders. Care is coordinated with other doctors and medical professionals involved with the patient’s therapeutic regimen.

Outpatient nutrition therapy is needed and provided to help treat eating disorders. Multiple visits are recommended for best results. Care is coordinated with other medical providers, including referring doctors and mental health professionals.

Eating disorders are potentially life-threatening if treatment is not received. They disturb dietary and eating patterns, and can harm a person’s health. Eating disorders can affect both men and women of all ages, including children, adolescents, adults and seniors.

Individuals with eating disorders may severely restrict food or overeat. High levels of distress, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and/or obsession with body weight and image may influence the onset of eating disorders.

Types of eating disorders treated are:

• Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
• Anorexia Nervosa
• Bulimia Nervosa
• Binge-Eating Disorder

Weight Management

Weight management is an ongoing struggle for millions of people. Healthy weight is important for normal growth and development, care free aging, active lifestyles, and disease prevention and management. Lower or higher than normal body weight and body fat affect the entire body, and increase the risk of poor bone, heart, hormonal, brain, and reproductive health. Individuals suffering from underweight, overweight or obesity report and statistically demonstrate reduced self-esteem, health, and quality of life. Effective weight management strategies can be developed and sustained with the professional guidance of a Licensed and Registered Dietitian.

Individualized one-on-one counseling is provided to help patients and clients achieve desired and medically required weight loss or gain. As part of weight management counseling, food and nutrition education, food purchasing guidelines, food preparation tips and recipes, and physical activity recommendations are provided. Learning about food and understanding how to eat takes time. Multiple visits are recommended for best results. Seeking help early and often helps with managing weight.

Nutrition counseling is highly recommended for patients who take doctor-prescribed weight loss or weight gain medications. Nutrition education improves weight loss or weight gain results, and better ensures that weight losses or gains achieved while on medication are maintained after the medication is discontinued.

Underweight status is as equally unhealthy for the human body as overweight and obesity. Underweight counseling addresses swallowing and feeding challenges, eating disorders, picky eating, food intolerances and allergies, physical activity patterns, sports training and competition, gastrointestinal conditions, chronic disease management, mental conditions, and growth and development concerns. Individuals of all ages benefit from medical nutrition therapy related to underweight status.

Overweight and obesity counseling works to achieve healthy and sustained weight loss for disease prevention and/or management. According to the Weight-Control information Network (WIN), an information service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), overweight and obesity may increase an individual’s risk of cancer, depression and other mental health disorders, diabetes, fatty liver disease, gallbladder disease, growth and development abnormalities, heart disease, high blood pressure, infertility, kidney conditions, osteoarthritis, pregnancy complications, sleep apnea, stroke and other health conditions. Many overweight and obese individuals suffer from one or more of the above conditions.

Heart Health

The National Institute of Health (NIH), the Center for Disease Control for Disease Control and other agencies report that heart disease is the number one killer of women and men in the United States. Cardiovascular disease kills one person in the U.S. every 34 seconds.

The American Heart Association indicates that high blood pressure, smoking, poor diet, low amounts of physical activity, abnormal blood sugars, and/or obesity contribute to death related to cardiovascular disease.

Many conditions increase the risk of developing heart disease. These conditions include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and/or metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome is a combination of three or more of the following conditions:

• A Large Waistline or Excess Fat in Stomach Area
• Insulin Resistance or High Fasting Blood Sugar
• High Triglycerides (a Type of Fat in the Blood)
• Low HDL or Good Cholesterol
• High Blood Pressure

Taking medications to control unhealthy conditions is the first step. However, relying on medications alone is NOT enough to stop the progression of heart disease and related damage to the body.

Nutrition counseling focuses on teachings that emphasize healthy food choices, food preparation, timing of meals and physical activity. Other lifestyle habits are also examined to help each individual achieve improved blood pressure, blood cholesterol, blood sugars, body weight, stress levels and other important health markers related to heart health.

Our counseling services have helped many individuals reduce the risk of damaging effects of heart disease. Seeking help early and often can help with managing this progressive and potentially life devastating condition.

Prenatal Nutrition

Nutrition counseling is important for healthy pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Medical nutrition therapy and education focuses on pre-pregnancy weight status, proper weight gain during pregnancy, avoiding excess weight or less than adequate weight gain, balanced diet, special dietary needs, food allergies and intolerances, physical activity, and lifestyle education. Nutrition counseling also takes into consideration the medical history of expecting mothers and increased risk for complications.

Care is coordinated with other doctors and medical professionals involved with the patient’s therapeutic regimen. Breastfeeding is discussed and encouraged.

Multiple visits are recommended throughout the pregnancy and after the birth of the child.

Conditions that may be associated with pregnancy include:

• Anemia (Folic Acid, Iron Deficiencies)
• Breast-Feeding and Lactation
• Complications Associated with Pre-pregnancy Chronic Conditions
• Edema
• Gestational Diabetes
• Gastroesophageal Reflux or Indigestion
• High Blood Pressure
• Multiple Fetuses
• Nausea and Vomiting or Morning Sickness
• Pica
• Post-Partum Depression
• Preeclampsia and Eclampsia
• Swelling of Hands, Legs, Ankles and/or Feet
• Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies

Youth Nutrition

Over 30% of children & adolescents ages 6-19 are considered to be overweight or obese - with more than 20% of this pediatric population meeting the requirements for obesity (source: National Institutes of Health: National Health & Nutrition Examination Survey). Given these statistics, healthy growth and development for infants, children and adolescents is vital. Nutrition education helps youth and families learn how to eat to build healthy bodies, improve sports performance, and avoid or manage chronic diseases.

Children and adolescents may go through stages of picky eating and food avoidance. Youth with poor eating habits are at an increased risk of behavioral issues, bone and tooth problems, chronic disease, fatigue, growth and development abnormalities, poor performance in school, vitamin deficiencies, and other challenges. Dietary education helps children and families overcome negative food choices and habits, ensure a balanced diet, and avoid deficiencies.

Some youths and families prefer vegetarian and vegan diets. Nutrition counseling provides food guidance for balanced plant based eating and good health.

Nutrition counseling for underweight helps pediatric patients and their families improve management of swallowing and feeding challenges, eating disorders, picky eating, food avoidance, food intolerances and allergies, physical activity patterns, sports training and competition, gastrointestinal conditions, chronic disease management, mental conditions, and growth and development problems. Youth of all ages benefit from medical nutrition therapy. Dietary education helps promote healthy growth and development. Counseling may also identify and coordinate care for emotional disorders related to and/or resulting from underweight status.

Childhood overweight and obesity, and related chronic disease continue to affect many children in the United States. Nutrition and lifestyle counseling help youth and families choose healthier foods, and learn eating at home and out strategies to slow down, stop and/or avoid higher than necessary weight gain. Counseling may also identify and coordinate care for emotional disorders related to and/or resulting from overweight and/or obesity status.