Disordered eating and eating disorders is a pressing concern that significantly affects the Asia-Pacific populations. Approximately one in five young Asians are reported to experience disordered eating. Unfortunately, the dearth of research and knowledge of eating disorders in the region, coupled with the lack of awareness and rigid socio-cultural conditioning creates healthcare professionals (HCPs such as doctors, therapists, nutritionists, RDs, psychiatrists etc.) who harbor limited empathy and sensitivity around such presenting concerns. Due to this, the physiological and psychological impact is highly overlooked and underreported in these regions, especially South Asia.
First of its kind, ‘Navigating Eating Disorders in Healthcare Professionals’ (NEDHCP) aims to provide psychoeducation and sensitise HCPs through a South-Asian lens. It provides the latest evidence on pertinent topics that contribute to and perpetuate EDs. To be able to identify red flags, symptomologies and provide appropriate guidance as first-person contact. Early diagnosis of EDs and prompt referral to ED specialists could enable faster recovery for the populations suffering with the same. ED-sensitised HCPs are the need of this hour in our healthcare. The NEDHCP course imparts practical information and clinical skills to HCPs that they could immediately start implementing after this course.
- Module 1: introduces the course and its speakers
- Module 2: speaks about the eating behaviour spectrum, identifying the point at which eating can be termed as ‘disordered eating’ and/or moving onto a full blown eating disorders.
- Module 3: explores socio-cultural conditioning and explores weight stigma and its consequences along with practical exploratory exercises.
- Module 4: explains the effect of media culture and body image
- Module 5: touches upon nutritional considerations
- Module 6: provides recommended clinical practices
About the Presenters:
Ishitaa Bhatia is a Mumbai-based consulting nutritionist and founder of The Nutrition Project. She holds two masters (MSc.) degrees in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics from University of Mumbai, India and University College London, UK. She is a Registered Associated Nutritionist (ANutr.), from the Association for Nutrition, UK; as well as a member of the Indian Dietetic Association (IDA) and Nutrition Society India (NSI). She has completed training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-E) from the ED unit at University of Oxford (CREDO).
Ishitaa holds a special interest in children and young adult patient population. Her passion lies in consulting patients to bring about long-term changes in nutritional behaviours. She specialises in eating disorders and clinical nutrition; and often works with multidisciplinary health-care teams. She identifies as a body-positive HAES-aligned nutritionist with her practice stemming from the principles of Intuitive Eating.
The Nutrition Project strives to provide accurate scientific nutrition information through social media- in addition to mending clients’ relationship with food and their bodies. It aims to provide for a safe, sustainable self-care eating framework.
Rhea Kishnani is a mental health counselor and the founder of a private counseling center, Mind Heal(th) in Mumbai, India. She has completed her double masters, Ed.M. Psychological Counseling and M.A. Mental Health Counseling from Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City. She has significant counseling and teaching experience in the United States and is professionally affiliated with Psi Chi Honor Society, Phi Beta Kappa, American Counseling Association and the National Eating Disorder Association, USA.
Her clinical specializations involve working with clients experiencing issues around anxiety, eating disorders, life transitions, interpersonal issues, empowerment and spiritual search for meaning-making through a trauma informed framework. Mind Heal(th) strives to create a non-judgmental space wherein a trauma- relational framework is adopted that helps individuals explore their innate healing capacities along with examine various systemic factors that contribute to their support, safety, recovery and transformation.