Changing eating habits does not always depend on diet alone. Psychodietetics helps understand the mechanisms behind eating behaviors, supports weight reduction, and teaches how to build a healthier relationship with food.
Psychodietetics is a relatively young field that emerged in response to the enormous problems associated with the growing scale of obesity worldwide – over the last 40 years, the prevalence of obesity has nearly tripled. In a 2016 report, the World Health Organization (WHO) showed that almost 2 billion people over the age of 18 were overweight, and within this group 650 million were obese. In Poland, according to the same report, 64% of men and 49% of women suffer from excess body weight. Unfortunately, this trend is expected to intensify, and we are already speaking of an obesity epidemic.
In many cases, support in changing eating habits requires something far more complex than simply preparing a proper diet plan. Some patients are able to achieve their goal with ease and succeed in losing weight, while others give up after just a few days of dieting, and still others repeatedly lose weight and then regain it. This is precisely why a separate field was created – psychodietetics, which combines knowledge from nutrition science and psychology. In psychodietetics, it is important not only to make changes in the diet, but also to maintain balance in the other areas of the patient’s life and overall functioning.
The support of a psychodietitian may be helpful not only for people who struggle to lose excess weight, but for anyone who would like to start eating in a healthier way. A psychodietitian is an excellent solution for individuals who have difficulty accepting their body shape or who have repeatedly tried to lose weight without success. A psychodietitian helps the patient understand the mechanisms that influence their body, so that they know how to respond to specific signals. They also provide support in changing eating habits.
If any of the above issues apply to you, it is worth considering a consultation with a psychodietitian. At our Clinic, psychodietetics is provided by Dorota Świątkowska, MA – a specialist in nutrition and clinical dietetics. She offers nutritional counselling for both adults and children. She also supports people struggling with a wide range of nutrition-related concerns.
