Our areas of expertise:

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are psychological illnesses that affect approximately 3% of Canadians. A 2016 Statistics Canada study revealed that approximately 1 million Canadians have been diagnosed with this illness.

Eating disorders currently found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders:

It is a common misconception that eating disorders can be seen, only impact individuals in smaller bodies and are most commonly found in females. Eating disorders do not discriminate based on size, age, gender, race or socioeconomic status. If food is a source of distress, control or coping and takes up a significant amount of space in your life, you may be affected.

 

If you think you may be suffering from disordered eating or may have an eating disorder, please take this quick survey.

Disordered Eating and Dieting

While eating disorders are identified using diagnostic criteria from the DSM V, many individuals struggle with disordered eating. A 2018 study found that 58% of adolescent girls (aged 13-18) were engaging in practices in order to lose weight .

Efforts put in place to control weight can prompt physiological responses from the body. These adaptive mechanisms can lead to obsessive thoughts around food, perceived inability to control intake and a failure to maintain a lower weight. The diet industry prompts people of all ages and genders to engage in disordered eating practices in the name of health. Sööma strongly believes that people do not need to get better at controlling their intake. Instead, our professionals will work with you to understand how diet culture has impacted your perception of eating and your body.

Practicing from at Health at Every Size Approach ⓒ, we believe in focusing on all aspects of health and wellness beyond weight. This doesn’t mean that individuals are always at their ideal body weight for health. Instead, we focus on body diversity and explore habits that can contribute to an individual’s mental, physical and emotional well-being.

Sports Nutrition

Whether you are a recreational, competitive or elite athlete, fueling is a crucial part of training. Athletes are a population that need to ensure that they are fueling adequately to meet the energy demands on the body. The sport you practice may impact your specific macro-nutrient needs, such as fat, protein and carbohydrate intake.

 

 

Relative energy deficiency in sport, a term coined by the International Olympic Committee in 2014, refers to inadequate energy availability to support the demands of optimal health and performance in both men and women of all ages.

Gentle Nutrition for Medical Concerns

Food can serve as medicine, but one’s relationship with food can also be problematic to health. If you have been diagnosed with a medical condition such as hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia or another, your relationship with your body and food may be at the forefront of your condition. Please note that your weight IS NOT the source of the problem and if a medical provider has prescribed weight loss as the solution, it is not.

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One principle of intuitive eating is ‘gentle nutrition’, which considers the impact that our eating behaviors can have on our physical well-being and health. This principle is the last of the 10 for a reason…You can’t jump to gentle nutrition if you’re not first able to honor your body.

 

Our goal is to help you address your metabolic conditions, while honoring your body. We are not saying that nutrition doesn’t play a role in physical health. We are saying that weight loss is not the solution.

Our team of experienced professional dietitians is here to help!