Get Family-Based Treatment (FBT) for Eating Disorders to help your child, teen, and/or loved one achieve full recovery and holistic well-being. Our certified medical nutrition therapy dietitians provide compassionate care to guide you toward lasting healing and empower you to reclaim food and body trust and freedom, embracing life with a renewed sense of wellness and vitality.
Family Based Treatment (FBT) is an evidence-based treatment for children and adolescents with eating disorders. It uses the family and caregivers to help their child recover from their eating disorder.
At Side By Side Nutrition, our certified medical nutrition therapy dietitians provide personalized, family-based treatment nutrition counseling specifically tailored for children and adolescents facing eating disorders. We empower parents with the tools they need to support their child’s recovery. FBT has emerged as an effective intervention for children and adolescents struggling with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
As dietitian nutritionists who specialize in eating disorder nutrition therapy, our approach is grounded in a holistic philosophy that prioritizes behaviors, and overall well-being, fostering a positive relationship with food and our bodies, and practicing self-compassion rather than fixating on numbers. This philosophy forms the foundation of values-aligned, intuitive, sustainable health and well-being. Our focus lies in assisting families in cultivating a sustainable, empathetic, respectful, and trusting connection with food, body image, and self.
Our dietitians are based in Colorado Springs and Fort Collins, Colorado, as well as Woodinville, Washington, and we work with patients from all over the state and country providing in-person and online nutrition counseling.
When compared with other treatment modalities, FBT comes out as the winner when working with adolescents/teens and their families. This is because the key factors of FBT that make it so successful include early intervention, family involvement, structured meal support, and a focus on weight restoration.
Focus on treating the eating disorder vs finding a cause. There is no blaming of the parents or caregivers.
Empowerment focused. The goal is to empower parents or caregivers to nourish their child and help them towards recovery. As parents, you know your child best, and we’re here, as dietitian nutritionists, for guidance and support.
There are 3 Phases of FBT.
PHASE 1: Parental management and weight restoration.
In phase 1, parents or caregivers are in charge of planning, prepping, and plating all meals and snacks to help their child get adequate nutrition. If weight restoration is needed, this is also an essential goal, as full weight restoration is an important part of recovery.
PHASE 2: Gradual return of control to the adolescent.
As the eating disorder behaviors subside and weight is restored, parents get their child to help with choosing or prepping some meals or snacks.
PHASE 3: Establishing healthy independence.
This may be where treatment shifts from a family-focused treatment towards parents or caregivers helping their child develop an identity and independence while also being free of their eating disorder.
Family-Based Treatment (FBT), also referred to as the Maudsley Approach, has emerged as an effective therapy for children, adolescents, and young adults struggling with eating disorders. Nevertheless, it's crucial to acknowledge that the efficacy of treatment methods can vary depending on individual circumstances.
Extensive research and clinical trials consistently attest to the effectiveness of Family-Based Treatment in addressing eating disorders. Notably, FBT not only demonstrates short-term efficacy but also yields sustained benefits over time. Long-term follow-up investigations, such as those documented in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, indicate the positive impact of FBT even beyond the active treatment phase.
While FBT enjoys robust empirical backing, it's essential to acknowledge the presence of individual differences, with varying patient responses to different treatment approaches. Additionally, ongoing research may contribute further insights into the effectiveness of various treatments for eating disorders.
FBT and eating disorder recovery is a marathon, not a sprint. It often takes several months or longer to restore adequate nutrition and weight. It also can take up to a year after that for eating disorder thoughts to decrease or disappear.
Sometimes, more intensive treatment options may be recommended. This does not mean your child or family is failing at FBT or outpatient treatment. Often, the eating disorder is so strong, or there are medical conditions, that a higher level of care would be beneficial before returning to outpatient.
Since treatment can be intensive, we want to stress the importance of self-care for parents and caregivers. This can mean using family or friends for support, eating disorder support groups for caregivers, or alternating who eats meals/snacks with your child.
Typically, it’s recommended to meet with your dietitian and FBT therapist weekly, but this can be individualized to your family’s situation.
Eating disorders may arise from a blend of genetic, biological, psychological, and environmental influences. While they can impact people of all ages, including children, particular elements may elevate the likelihood of eating disorder development in this demographic. It's noteworthy that these risk factors don't automatically lead to the onset of an eating disorder, and various elements could play into an individual's susceptibility. Here are several potential risk factors for eating disorders in children:
Genetic Factors: Evidence suggests a genetic predisposition to eating disorders, meaning children with a family history of eating disorders or other mental health conditions might face a higher risk.
Psychological Factors: Certain personality traits like perfectionism, low self-esteem, or self-criticism may render children more susceptible to eating disorders.
Sociocultural Influences: Societal pressures, idealized body images in media, and cultural emphasis on thinness can foster body dissatisfaction and impact the development of eating disorders.
Peer Influence: Children influenced by peer pressure to conform to specific body standards or engage in unhealthy eating behaviors may be at increased risk.
Dieting and Weight Concerns: Children practicing dieting or expressing worries about weight and body shape may be prone to developing disordered eating patterns.
Sports and Activities: Participation in sports or activities focusing on weight, body shape, or performance, such as gymnastics or wrestling, may heighten the risk of eating disorders in children.
Childhood Trauma: Exposure to traumatic events, such as abuse, may contribute to eating disorder development in some children.
Parental and Family Influence: Family dynamics, parental attitudes toward body image and weight, and modeling of unhealthy eating behaviors can shape a child's view of food and body image.
Mental Health Conditions: Children with pre-existing mental health conditions like anxiety or depression may face an increased risk of developing eating disorders.
Puberty and Body Changes: The physical and hormonal changes during puberty can lead to body dissatisfaction and elevate susceptibility to eating disorders.
It's crucial to recognize the complexity of these risk factors as eating disorders are multifaceted conditions. Not every child with these risk factors will develop an eating disorder, and the interaction of different elements shapes an individual's risk. Early intervention, transparent communication, and a nurturing environment play key roles in minimizing these risks and fostering a positive body image and healthy relationship with food in children.
We want to work with you.
The Side by Side Nutrition team has a team of 12+ outpatient registered dietitians. We provide online nutrition counseling to patients in Colorado and around the country. We offer one-on-one and family nutrition counseling for patients either online or in person, with offices located in Colorado Springs and Fort Collins. We specialize in eating disorder recovery and body image healing.
RD - Registered Dietitian
RDN - Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
MS - Masters of Science
Strive to create a safe and nurturing space for individuals on their journey to wellness.
Understand the profound impact that eating disorders can have on one's life.
Are committed to fostering a supportive community where every client feels seen, heard, and understood.
Work from an intuitive eating, HAES (Health at Every Size) Informed Approach.
Believe everyone has the right to high-quality care – accessibility and inclusivity are at the core of our values.
Stand firm in our belief in the possibility of full recovery.
Continually invest in our education to stay at the forefront of the field.
Are committed to ongoing learning.
Channel all our resources into becoming the best eating disorder nutritionist counselors.
Are dedicated to guiding our clients toward a life of lasting health and empowerment.
Our devoted team of nutrition experts specializing in eating disorders is dedicated to guiding clients toward a journey of healing that transcends fear and shame. By addressing concerns around food and dismantling negative body image perceptions and behaviors, we empower clients to reclaim ownership of their relationships with food and body and to shift their outlook, beliefs, and behaviors towards love, respect, and acceptance. This transformation paves the way for sustainable recovery and lasting wellbeing. Together, we strive to eradicate feelings of shame related to food and body image, identify triggers that fuel self-doubt, and nurture a trusting relationship with both food and body, creating space for our authentic selves and true values to emerge and thrive.
Recognizing that each individual holds the key to their own healing journey, our diverse team of medical nutrition specialists facilitates a process of self-exploration and empowerment. Recovery from an eating disorder and disorder eating extends beyond overcoming the eating disorder; it involves cultivating a rich and empowered life through healing around food and body image.
A full treatment team is recommended in order to provide effective care. Your dietitian at Side by Side can help refer you to other care providers.
A dietitian can assist in developing and adjusting a suitable meal plan, offer educational resources, facilitate exposure to diverse foods to broaden variety, provide exercise recommendations, help with body image struggles, aid in challenging eating disorder thought patterns and much more.
A FBT family therapist who has been trained specifically in FBT can with the family to provide support for challenges, help teach coping skills, provide guidance, and more.
A PCP that is ideally educated on eating disorder can help regularly monitor vital signs, weight, labs, and any other tests recommended.
Other providers, such as a psychiatrist or therapists for other family members, may be recommended.
Our holistic approach begins with an in-depth initial evaluation, delving into your individual needs by exploring your history with food, body image, and overall health. With your consent, we engage in a collaborative process to grasp your objectives and hopes for our collaboration and your journey toward full recovery.
Our approach is centered on breaking free from the constant thoughts and behaviors associated with the eating disorder that keep individuals stuck in a cycle of distress. Together, we embark on a transformative journey to build trust in the body's natural cues and become intuitive and trusting eaters, allowing for a renewed sense of freedom and openness in life.
Our focus goes beyond merely managing symptoms; we aim to facilitate a profound transformation in how body image is perceived, fostering self-acceptance and a genuine appreciation for one's unique self. By breaking down the mental and emotional barriers imposed by the eating disorder, we empower our clients to embrace a life free from never-ending negative food and body image thoughts, nurturing a newfound sense of joy, purpose, and opportunity. Follow-up sessions are central to our collaborative efforts. We thoroughly explore your connection with food and body, addressing obstacles and co-creating personalized strategies. We delve into body image examination, dismantling external pressures of food and body negativity, and establishing supportive frameworks as necessary. Our objective is to assist you in broadening the spectrum and adaptability of your eating habits, learning to nuture and tend to your body's signals of hunger and satisfaction, and cultivating a joyful relationship with both food and body.
Throughout your journey, we offer unwavering support, navigating the inevitable ups and downs. We celebrate your progress and stand by you as you cross the finish line. Our mission is not only eating disorder recovery but also the cultivation of a life that is rich, meaningful, and fully aligned with your values. We believe in the importance of this journey and the therapeutic relationship, and our dedicated dietitians are here to guide you every step of the way.
TESTIMONIALS
Our team of Expert Dietitian Nutritionists Have Been Featured In:
We are committed to ensuring that our clients have access to healthcare, and we make every effort to facilitate this. We accept insurance plans such as BlueCross Blue Shield (Anthem/Regence), United HealthCare (Optum), Aetna, and Cigna.
Dietitians at Side By Side Nutrition work with teens and adolescents ages around 9+ and up. With treating adolescents for an eating disorder, we typically use a modified family based treatment approach which involves treating the entire family. You can learn more about Family Based Treatment for eating disorders here.
Body dysmorphic disorder, also known as BDD, is a mental health condition characterized by excessive preoccupation with perceived flaws in one's appearance. This condition can affect individuals of any gender identity, including male, female, transgender, or non-binary. While it often emerges during adolescence, BDD can persist into adulthood and can affect individuals at any stage of life.
Health at Every Size™ is a compassionate care framework that recognizes and promotes body diversity and holistic health. We recognize a focus on intentional weight loss causes harm, does not improve health, and further invokes weight stigma and discrimination. We believe any person in any size body can pursue health and create positive behavior change that prioritizes their individual health desires.
Intuitive Eating is an approach to eating that incorporates building body trust, intuitive responses, emotional awareness, and listening to your body. It encourages self-compassion, curiosity, trust, and a gentle attitude towards food in order to cultivate and maintain a sustainable, healthy, and trusting relationship with food and body image.
In summary, all Registered Dietitians (RD or RDN) are qualified nutritionists, but not all nutritionists hold the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential. The term "nutritionist" is not regulated, allowing anyone to use it, which complicates distinguishing individuals with comprehensive nutrition education (e.g., CN or CNS) from those with minimal training such as weekend courses or self-study.
The Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RD or RDN) designation is nationally recognized and provides certain assurances. It indicates that the individual has met specific criteria, including obtaining at least a bachelor's degree in nutrition science, completing a supervised practice program of over 1200 hours, passing a national registration exam, and fulfilling extensive continuing education requirements for license renewal. Our dietitian nutritionists are also licensed in states where licensure is mandatory.
Other practitioners who may identify as nutritionists, such as health coaches, holistic nutritionists, nutrition therapy practitioners, and personal trainers with "nutrition certifications," may lack formal nutrition training. Consequently, their services are ineligible for insurance reimbursement nationwide because they are not recognized as nutrition experts.
Recent “graduate” from Side by Side Nutrition. I started working with SBSN to figure out how food worked after having an eating disorder for years. And I’m so happy I got so much more than that! SBSN introduced me to Self-Compassion and met me with an approach that never included shaming me. I looked forward to our sessions every week, even if I hadn’t done any of my work, because I knew she’d be understanding and work with me to figure out what I needed to make it happen. And none of that compassion and presence was lost when we had to switch to telehealth. When I started, I didn’t think healing from an eating disorder was possible. And I never in my wildest dreams imagined that I’d come out of it with an unshakable love for my body (certainly not a plus size body with chronic illness)! I’m so glad circumstances sent me here because I know I wouldn’t have gotten to this place with my previous dietician! I am STRONG, I am CONFIDENT, and I am in LOVE with myself! Thank you so much for helping me on my journey here! It wasn’t easy, but it was so worth it!
— Michaela Myers