Dietetics & Nutrition
What is the dietician’s role in mental health?
Mental health and physical health are interlinked. Many mental health disorders can directly impact your physical health and the reverse is also true. Feeling depressed or anxious can profoundly impact day-to-day functioning, including being able to eat properly or do any physical activity. This can lead to an increased risk for other chronic diseases like diabetes, respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
The dietician is a fundamental part of a multidisciplinary team involved in the care of client with mental health conditions. Good nutrition and a healthy, balanced lifestyle can improve physical and mental health outcomes and quality of life.
Our Services
- Eating disorders (eating disorder plans, EDP)
- Enhanced primary care (EPC)
- NDIS dietary assessment and management
- Food intolerances, gluten and dairy intolerance
- Sensory issues (aversions, seeking-behaviour)
- Dietary support
- Chronic disease management
- Diabetes and cholesterol
- Bowel resections, gastrectomy, gastric banding
- Re-feeding
What is an eating disorder?
Eating disorders are a type of mental health condition characterised by severe disturbances in eating behaviours and related thoughts and emotions.
It is common for someone with an ED to develop an unhealthy preoccupation with food and body size, weight or shape.
Sometimes, an eating disorder can evolve out of a fear of nausea or vomiting, a lack of interest in food or sensory aversions to certain foods.
An eating disorder can be effectively treated with the help and support of a specialised multidisciplinary team of trained professionals.
How can the dietician help?
- Develop and support your healthy eating behaviours and routines.
- Help you learn to make the best food choices to suit your lifestyle.
- Work together with your multidisciplinary team of professionals and your family.
- Advise and encourage you to achieve and maintain adequate nutrition to support your body’s needs.
- Help you to identify and challenge the thoughts and feelings that are causing and maintaining your disordered eating.
Types of eating disorders treated
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Bulimia Nervosa
- Orthorexia Nervosa
- Binge Eating Disorder
- AFRID (Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder)
