Nutrition Therapy

Nutrition therapy is provided for:

• Amenorrhea (the absence of menstrual periods)

• Anemia (low blood count from iron, B12, and/or folic acid deficiencies)

• Athletic and sports performance nutrition

• Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder

• Autism spectrum, including Aspergers and other autism-related eating and nutrition challenges

• Bariatric nutrition counseling and education for BEFORE and AFTER bariatric surgery – including laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, vertical sleeve gastrectomy, and roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgeries

• Cancer

• Chronic fatigue

• Diabetes, pre-diabetes, and blood glucose abnormalities including insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, type 1, type 2, gestational diabetes, and reactive hypoglycemia

• Eating disorders including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating

• Failure to thrive – adult and pediatric underweight

• Fibromyalgia

• Food allergies

• Food intolerances

• Gastrointestinal disorders:  Acid reflux (gastroesophageal reflux/heartburn), gastrointestinal cancers, celiac disease (gluten insensitivity), constipation, colitis, Crohn’s disease, diarrhea, diverticulosis / diverticulitis, feeding and swallowing difficulty, gallbladder disease (gallstones), gastritis, gastroparesis, hemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion, liver disease, nausea and vomiting, pancreatitis, short bowel syndrome

• General health maintenance / preventive nutrition

• Gout

• Heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other cardiovascular diseases

• HIV / AIDS

• Hypoglycemia and reactive hypoglycemia (low blood glucose)

• Lupus

• Menopause

• Metabolic syndrome

• Osteoporosis and osteopenia

• Pediatric nutrition – infant, toddler, child, adolescent

• Picky eating

• Pre-Pregnancy, pregnancy, breast-feeding and post-partum nutrition education

• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

• Rheumatoid arthritis

• Sleep apnea

• Thyroid disease

• Vegetarian and vegan dietary counseling

• Vitamin and mineral deficiencies including calcium, vitamin D, B-vitamin, and other dietary deficiencies

• Weight management, including failure to thrive, underweight, overweight, and obesity

Schedule an appointment. Morning, afternoon and evening hours are available at our West Deptford and Cherry Hill locations.

Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is a challenge.  Healthy weight is important for normal growth and development, healthy aging, active lifestyles, and disease prevention and management.  Healthy weight can be achieved and maintained with the profession guidance of our Licensed and Registered Dietitians.

Individualized one-on-one counseling is provided to help patients and clients achieve desired and medically required weight loss or gain. As part of healthy weight counseling, food and nutrition education, meal plans, 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 can help 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.  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.  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.  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 can increase an individual’s risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, gallbladder disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, cancer, depression, fatty liver disease, kidney conditions, infertility, pregnancy complications, mental health disorders, growth and development, and other health conditions.  Many overweight and obese individuals suffer from one or more of the above conditions.

National Institutes of Health Fast Facts:

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

• More than 2 in 3 adults are considered to be overweight or obese.

• More than 1 in 3 adults are considered to be obese.

• More than 1 in 20 adults are considered to have extreme obesity.

• About one-third of children and adolescents ages 6 to 19 are considered to be overweight or obese.

• More than 1 in 6 children and adolescents ages 6 to 19 are considered to be obese.

Calculate and Monitor your BMI

Adults aged 20 and over:

Healthy weight is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 24.9, and a waist size (belly button area) of no more than 35 inches (adult female) and 40 inches (adult male).

To calculate your BMI, use the healthy weight calculator in the footer of this page.

Infants, children and adolescents:

Weights and heights are plotted on growth charts. Pediatricians and other medical professionals chart and monitor weight and growth progress.

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, ONE-ON-ONE 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 who have successfully achieved and maintained weight loss attend multiple counseling sessions BEFORE surgery, and continue with counseling for months and years following surgery.

The “Healthy Lifestyles” Program group support is available to individuals preparing for and working to achieve their health goals with bariatric surgery. The program is in association with The Center for Emotional Health of Greater Philadelphia. The “Healthy Lifestyles” interdisciplinary team is comprised of licensed and registered dietitians, licensed clinical psychologists, and personal trainers.

Bariatric patients are invited and encouraged to attend monthly sessions before and after bariatric surgery. Support group members benefit from discussions with our licensed team of professionals. Participants also enjoy the opportunity to share personal experiences, challenges and successes.  Attendees also learn from other bariatric patients in the group.

Healthy lifestyles group counseling sessions are held in our Cherry Hill Offices at The Center for Emotional Health of Greater Philadelphia – The Atrium Professional Building, 1910 Route 70 East, Suite 7, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003.   Participation is free. Advanced notice is not required but recommended.  Please subscribe to our Newsletter for updates about meeting dates and times.  

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), 23.6 million United States residents have diabetes.  Diabetes affects an individual for life.  Diabetes can lead to serious and life-threatening health conditions, including pregnancy with complications, birth defects, heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, blindness, nerve damage, amputation, physical and/or mental disability, coma and death.

Metabolic syndrome is a leading cause of diabetes. Individuals with metabolic syndrome have a FIVE TIMES higher risk of developing type 2 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, portion control, 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 and 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.

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, portion control, 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 goals 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.

Children and adolescents may go through stages of picky eating and food avoidance.  Youth with poor eating habits are at an increased risk of growth and development related issues, vitamin deficiencies, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, bone and tooth problems, fatigue, poor performance in school, behavior and other challenges.  Dietary education helps children and families overcome challenges with food, and develop healthy dietary behaviors.

Some youths and families prefer vegetarian and vegan diets.  Nutrition counseling provides food guidance to ensure a balanced vegetarian diet and avoid deficiencies.

Medical nutrition therapy also helps pediatric patients and families manage health conditions including, but not limited to:

• Amenorrhea (the absence of menstrual periods)

• Anemia (low blood count from iron, B12, and/or folic acid deficiencies)

• Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder

• Autism spectrum, including Aspergers and other autism-related eating and nutrition challenges

• Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder

• Down syndrome

• Eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating

• Failure to thrive – pediatric underweight

• Food allergies

• Food intolerances

• Gastrointestinal disorders: feeding and swallowing difficulties, celiac disease and gluten insensitivity, constipation, diarrhea, gastroparesis, indigestion, nausea and vomiting, short bowel syndrome

• High blood pressure

• High cholesterol

• High triglycerides

• Insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, reactive hypoglycemia

• Overweight and obesity

• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

• Picky eating

• Sports performance and fitness

• Underweight

• Vegetarian and vegan dietary counseling

• Vitamin and mineral deficiencies including calcium, vitamin D, B-vitamin, and other dietary deficiencies

Nutrition counseling for underweight helps pediatric patients and their families improve management of 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.  Youth of 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 or resulting from underweight status.

Childhood overweight and obesity, and related chronic disease continue to affect many children in the U.S.  Nutrition and lifestyle counseling helps children and families choose healthier foods, understand proper portions, 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 or resulting from overweight and/or obesity status.

National Institutes of Health Fast Facts:

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

• About one-third of children and adolescents ages 6 to 19 are considered to be overweight or obese.

• More than 1 in 6 children and adolescents ages 6 to 19 are considered to be obese.

Weights and heights are plotted on growth charts. Pediatricians and other medical professionals chart and monitor weight and growth progress.

BMI of Children and Adolescents Ages 2–19

Source: National Institutes of Health

Medical nutrition therapy may also work to prevent some gastrointestinal diseases and/or reverse the underlying causes of some gastrointestinal 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 cancer

• 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

Outpatient nutrition therapy is provided as a part of recommended medical treatment for 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, or obsession with body weight and image may influence the onset of eating disorders.

Types of eating disorders treated are:

• Anorexia nervosa
• Bulimia nervosa
• Binge-eating disorder
• Eating disorders not otherwise specified

Proper nutrition is central to optimal athletic performance. However, inadequate food intake, fad diets, junk food, and/or over-supplementation can stress the body and undermine desired outcomes.

Nutrition counseling for sports performance and fitness focuses on healthy, balanced diets for proper muscle development and recovery, strength and endurance.

Nutrition therapy is provided to:

• Fitness enthusiasts

• High school and college athletes

• Professional athletes

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 care. 

Breastfeeding is discussed and encouraged. Nutrition counseling during breastfeeding is strongly recommended to ensure adequate calorie intake for breastmilk production.  For mothers who choose not to or cannot breastfeed due to complications, dietary therapy is encouraged to help with weight loss after the birth of a child.

Care is coordinated with other doctors and medical professionals involved with the patient’s care. 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)

• Breastfeeding and lactation

• Calcium deficiencies

• Complications associated with pre-pregnancy chronic conditions

• Edema

• Gestational diabetes

• Gastroesphageal reflux or indigestion

• Multiple fetuses

• Nausea and vomiting or morning sickness

• Pica

• Post-partum depression

• Preeclampsia and eclampsia