Hormone Health and Eating Disorders: A Primer on Clinical and Counseling Essentials for Dietitians

Self-Paced | 9 Part Series | 100% Online | 15.25 CEs for Dietitians

WHO THIS COURSE IS FOR

This course is designed for dietitians and nutritionists; however, any healthcare provider, coach, or eating disorder professional may enroll.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• An exploration of some of the many hormones and systems impacted by eating disorders, stress, weight stigma, thyroid health, and aging
• Education specific to a weight-inclusive approach to hormone health
• How providers can steer the recovery process toward full body health-including hormone health

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Access to the 8-part hormone health & eating disorders course
• Bonus module on diabetes medications and eating disorders!
• Course developed by 7 experts at the tops of their fields
• Long-term access to all course materials
• Option to enroll with a payment plan or single payment

CURRICULUM

• Part 1: Introduction and Overview of the Endocrine System, Key Hormones, and the Connection Between the Endocrine and Nervous Systems by Dr. Asher Larmie: This session will walk you through the endocrine system and the organs involved; highlight the hormones produced by the thyroid, pancreas, and adrenal glands; describe how the endocrine and the nervous systems are connected; and identify impacts eating disorders have on reproductive hormones as a jumping-off point for the series.
• Part 2: Insulin Resistance and Gestational Diabetes: Root Causes and Weight-Inclusive Interventions by Dr. Asher Larmie: This presentation will cover the facts about what leads to insulin resistance, interventions that can support patients with "pre-diabetes", and provide the scientific evidence for managing insulin resistance from a weight- inclusive paradigm. It will also cover gestational diabetes (GDM) including the role genetics and stress play; ways to optimize perinatal care for GDM; interventions for GDM management, and the importance of helping prevent the development of disordered eating among individuals with the condition due to food fears, stigma, dietary restrictions, and fat phobia.
• Part 3: If It Works, Does It Matter Why? Weight Bias and Mechanisms for Change in Diabetes Prevention and Other Interventions for Fat Patients by Margit Berman, Ph.D, L.P: Research and clinical efforts to enhance the metabolic health of fat clients focus on efficacy, on finding interventions that work. Short-term efficacy data from research (e.g., in recent trials for the weight loss drug Wegovy) often get intense media and clinical attention. Many weight loss interventions are efficacious in the short-term. Health promotion interventions for diabetes that include weight loss as a major component, such as diabetes prevention programs, also are often efficacious in clinical trials even though intentional weight loss is a component. But what can clinicians learn from understanding the research into why, how, and for whom these interventions work? This session will explore how clinicians can convey "what really works" about diabetes prevention programs, while learning to discern and help patients know why intentional weight loss is not likely to improve their health long-term.
• Part 4: Stress hormones and their interaction with eating and weight stigma by Dr. Janet Tomiyama: Stress is a common human experience. This module will discuss the neuroendocrine implications of stress, including how cortisol (a primary stress hormone) plays a role in physical health and can lead to allostatic overload. It will also discuss how weight stigma and eating disorder behaviors/symptoms relate to cortisol.
• Part 5: Impact of Eating Disorder Behaviors on Thyroid Health: Unraveling the Complexities of Euthyroid Sick Syndrome by Dr Julie Tran-Olive, ND, Lac, MS: Eating disorders, including restriction, weight cycling, malnutrition, and bulimia, can have profound effects on various aspects of physical and mental health. In this enlightening presentation, we delve into the intricate relationship between eating disorder behaviors and thyroid health, focusing on the development of Euthyroid Sick Syndrome (ESS) in individuals facing these challenges. Join us as we explore the known impacts of eating disorder behaviors on thyroid function and the implications for patient care and management.
• Part 6: Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and its Nexus with Restriction, Weight Cycling, Malnutrition, and Bulimia: Understanding the Impacts on Thyroid Health Julie Tran-Olive, ND, Lac, MS: Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, an autoimmune disorder affecting the thyroid gland, has a complex relationship with various eating disorder behaviors, including restriction, weight cycling, malnutrition, and bulimia. This presentation aims to explore the interplay between these eating disorder patterns and thyroid health, shedding light on how they can exacerbate Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and potentially lead to adverse health outcomes. By understanding the underlying mechanisms, attendees will be equipped with essential knowledge to identify potential risks and promote better thyroid health in individuals with eating disorders.
• Part 7: Liberating Reproductive Health: Transforming Fertility Care with a Fat-Positive Lens by Nicola Salmon: Join Nicola Salmon, fat-positive fertility coach and author of the book Fat and Fertile, as we delve into the intersection of fertility, fatness, and the stigma faced by fat folks in fertility spaces. We will explore the latest findings in fertility and fatness, equipping dietitians with valuable resources to share with their clients and doctors. Emphasizing a fat-positive approach, we will discuss ways for dietitians to provide inclusive and empowering fertility support. We will delve into why it is crucial to be vigilant in recognizing eating disorders among fat clients and the impact they have on reproductive health. Additionally, we will address the utilization of fertility treatments specifically for fat folks, dispelling myths and providing evidence-based insights. Join us in navigating the intersection of hormones, fatness, and reproductive health.
• Part 8: Menopause, Aging, and Hormones through the Lens of Eating Disorders by Val Schonberg MS, RDN, CSSD, LD, NCMP, FAND: Menopause and aging are times of hormonal change and life transition that can have a significant impact on a person's physical and mental well-being. This stage of life is also associated with an increased risk of developing an eating disorder, triggering a relapse of previous eating disorder pathology, or complicating the recovery work of an existing eating disorder. To gain insight into the influence of hormones and the physiological aging process on the development, treatment, and recovery of eating disorders, this presentation will describe real-world examples of eating disorder cases during midlife. Through these case vignettes, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the physiological aspects, signs, and symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. Moreover, the presentation will focus on best practices for supporting a diverse population using a weight-neutral approach in management, education, treatment, and promoting eating disorder recovery.
• Bonus Module: Eating Disorders and Diabetes: a Focus on Diabetes Medications by Erin Phillips, MPH, RD, CDCES: People with diabetes are at increased risk of eating disorders, but treatment for diabetes can often feel at odds with eating disorder treatment. Understanding the use of medications for diabetes is a key piece of merging these two treatments. This webinar will focus on a weight-inclusive, anti-ableist view of medications for diabetes through the lens of the eating disorder treatment team.

SPEAKERS

Dr. Asher Larmie (they/them/he/him)

Dr. Asher Larmie is a Transmasculine weight-inclusive GP and leading expert in weight stigma. They are a fat activist and the founder of the #noweigh campaign, which is committed to putting an end to medical weight stigma. They have over 20 years of medical experience and have been fat for even longer than that.

As the self-styled Fat Doctor, Asher started a weight loss blog in June 2020. In fact, their first ever post was entitled “weight loss the hard way”! Suffice it to say a lot has changed since then, and after realizing that years of weight stigma, low self-esteem, and weight cycling had taken a toll on their physical, emotional, and mental health, they were determined to find a better way. And so their activism began.

They now host a successful podcast and run a number of training courses as well as monthly webinars for people who are interested in learning about weight inclusivity. They have featured in a number of newspapers and magazines, and have experience speaking both on television and the radio.

Margit I. Berman is currently Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at Augsburg University and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, and is also a psychologist in private practice. She is the author of A Clinician’s Guide to Acceptance-Based Approaches for Weight Concerns: The Accept Yourself! Framework (Routledge, 2018) and A Workbook of Acceptance-Based Approaches for Weight Concerns: The Accept Yourself! Framework (Routledge, 2018). She received the 2021 National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology’s President’s Leadership Award for her work developing and launching the Clinical Psychology PsyD Training Program at Augsburg University. She was a recipient of the 2015 Hitchcock Foundation Scholars Career Development award for her research and development of the Accept Yourself! intervention for large-bodied women with depression. She is past chair of the Society for Counseling Psychology’s Section for the Promotion of Psychotherapy Science and is associate editor of the Journal of Counseling Psychology. She is a feminist, cognitive-behavioral therapist who trains and supervises clinicians in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and self-acceptance-based interventions throughout the U.S.

Dr. Janet Tomiyama (she/her)

A. Janet Tomiyama, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles and Director of the Dieting, Stress, and Health (DiSH) laboratory (www.dishlab.org).

She received her B.A. in Psychology from Cornell University in 2001 and her Ph.D. in Social Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles in June of 2009, and completed a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholar Fellowship jointly at the University of California San Francisco and Berkeley.

Her work has been recognized by early career awards from the Association for Psychological Science, the Society for Behavioral Medicine, and the Society for Health Psychology. Her research, which has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, focuses on the biobehavioral and health consequences of stress, dieting, comfort eating, and weight stigma.

Val Schonberg, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD, NCMP, FAND (she/her)

Val Schonberg is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition science from the University of Minnesota. She is Board Certified as a Specialist in Sports Dietetics, a Certified Menopause Practitioner with the North American Menopause Society, and a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Val owns a private practice in Atlanta, Georgia, where she specializes in midlife health and menopause, recreational and professional sports nutrition, all types of eating disorders, and helping individuals break free from dieting and disordered eating. Originally from Minnesota, Val’s experience and expertise come from years of practice in many settings including women’s health, eating disorder treatment, Division 1 college sports medicine, professional dance organizations, and speaking regionally and nationally on numerous nutrition-related topics. In addition to individual nutrition counseling, she is the consulting dietitian for Emory Sports Medicine, Orthopedics, Atlanta Ballet, and the Atlanta Dream Women’s NBA team. Val is passionate about providing nutrition care to populations vulnerable to disordered eating and promoting positive nutrition messages that help people make informed decisions about their health and live a life where they are at peace in their relationship with food and their body.

Nicola Salmon (she/her)

Nicola is a fat-positive and feminist fertility coach and author of “Fat and Fertile.” She advocates for change in how fat people are treated whilst accessing help with their fertility. Nicola supports fat people who want to get pregnant using her unique FAT+ve fertility framework to find their own version of health without diets, advocate for their bodies, relearn how to trust their body and believe in their ability to get pregnant in their current body.

Dr. Julie Tran-Olive, ND, L.Ac, MS (she/her)

Dr. Julie Tran-Olive, ND, L.Ac, is a renowned naturopathic doctor, author, and researcher dedicated to a holistic approach to healing. Born and raised in San Jose, CA,

Dr. Tran-Olive developed a passion for the field of psychology early on. She pursued her undergraduate studies at The University of Redlands in CA, earning a BA in Psychology.

During her time as an undergraduate, Dr. Tran-Olive interned at the Loma Linda Behavioral Medical Center, where she served as a Behavioral Health Specialist. It was during this experience that she realized the importance of holistic healing and the need to explore alternative avenues for well-being.

Inspired by the idea that healing involves more than just altering brain chemistry, Dr.Tran-Olive decided to embark on a career in naturopathic medicine. She believed that addressing the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—was essential for true healing.

Driven by this philosophy, she traveled to Bridgeport, Connecticut, to pursue her doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine and two master’s degrees—one in Human Nutrition and the other in Acupuncture—from the University of Bridgeport.

Deepening her commitment to the concept of food as medicine, Dr. Tran-Olive trained under the guidance of Dr. Peter D'Adamo, ND, the author of the New York Times Bestseller, "Eat Right for Your Type" (The Blood Type Diet), at the prestigious D'Adamo Clinic. During her time there, she also became a Fellow of the Institute for Human Individuality (FIFHI), further expanding her knowledge and expertise.

After extensive study and training, Dr. Tran-Olive returned to her hometown of San Jose, CA, where she completed her Masters of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) from Five Branches University. She integrated the principles of TCM and acupuncture into her practice, enriching her ability to provide comprehensive care to her patients.

As an avid researcher and clinician, Dr. Tran-Olive is passionate about staying up to date with the latest treatment methods and sharing her knowledge with patients. She has authored numerous articles and is the author of the eBook "The Best Book on Naturopathy," a comprehensive guide for aspiring naturopathic doctors.

Dr. Tran-Olive's passion and expertise have earned her recognition as an international bestselling author. She is a featured author in "Asian Women Trailblazers Who Boss Up," a book that celebrates the achievements of inspirational Asian women. Additionally, she authored "Acupuncture Awakenings," a powerful resource that explores the origins, principles, and benefits of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, highlighting their potential to promote holistic health and well-being.

Dr. Tran-Olive's impressive educational background and dedication to holistic healing have earned her several certifications and affiliations. She is NCCAOM certified (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) and holds the title of CNS (Certified Nutrition Specialist) from the CBNS (Certification Board for Nutrition Specialist). Furthermore, she is a Fellow of IfHI (Institute for Human Individuality).

Dr. Tran-Olive is an active member of various professional organizations and associations, including the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP), where she serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee and the Science Affairs Committee. She has previously served on the Board of Directors for AANP. She also serves on the DEI Panel for Business Networking International (BNI) USA. She is a member of ASDAH (Association of Size Diversity and Health), Food As Medicine Global

(FAMG), CSOMA (California State Oriental Medical Association), where she serves at the Vice President, Treasurer, and chair of the Continuing Education and Events Committee and CNDA (California Naturopathic Doctor's Association), where she chairs the Donor and Development Committee.

Furthermore, Dr. Tran-Olive is involved with Herban Health and Acupuncturist Without Boarders, both non-profit organizations dedicated to providing and promoting community-based holistic healthcare to the medically underserved population in the San Francisco Bay Area and globally throughout the world. She actively contributes to both organization's missions.

Dr. Tran-Olive is deeply committed to the principles of Health At Every Size® (HAES). She firmly believes in promoting body positivity and inclusivity, recognizing that health and well-being can be achieved at any size. As a member ASDAH, she actively contributes to the organization's vision of creating a world that celebrates bodies of all shapes and sizes, where body weight is no longer a source of discrimination.

Through her work as a naturopathic doctor, author, and researcher, Dr. Tran-Olive strives to empower individuals to embrace their bodies and focus on holistic well-being rather than adhering to societal beauty standards. She promotes the understanding that health is multifaceted and encompasses physical, mental, and emotional aspects, independent of body size or shape.

Dr. Julie Tran-Olive is a true trailblazer in the field of naturopathic medicine. With her comprehensive education, extensive training, and innovative approach to healing, she strives to merge traditional medicine with natural remedies for optimal holistic well-being. Her commitment to whole person healing and her dedication to helping individuals achieve a natural state of health serve as an inspiration to her patients and colleagues alike.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Tran-Olive finds joy in relaxation, music, and spending quality time with her husband, Doug, her dog, Pebbles, and her close friends. She believes in maintaining a well-balanced life to better serve her patients and stay connected with her own well-being.

Erin Phillips, MPH, RD, CDCES (she/her)

Erin is a registered dietitian, diabetes specialist, and private practice owner focusing on the intersection of diabetes and eating disorders. She supports people living with diabetes through individual counseling and provides 1:1 and group consultation for clinicians looking to be more grounded and confident in supporting their clients and patients with co-occurring diagnoses of diabetes and eating disorders.

She has received advanced training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and is always geeking out staying up to date about the latest and greatest diabetes technology and medications.

She is super passionate about increasing access to weight-inclusive diabetes care, and, to that end, is creating courses for eating disorder and diabetes professionals: Diabetes for the Eating Disorder Professional, Eating Disorders for the Diabetes Professional, and a masterclass on GLP-1 medications.