Nutrition Assessment at Remuda Ranch

Nutrition Assessment

Nutrition Therapy plays a very important role in the treatment of eating disorders. Properly nourishing the body and achieving a healthy body weight are both essential for physical and psychological health. Unless the body is well nourished, the brain does not function properly, making it difficult for the patient to fully engage in her treatment. Therefore, the foundation of eating disorder treatment at Remuda Ranch at The Meadows is nourishment. The Registered Dieticians make sure that every patient is receiving the correct meal plan with the accurate number of calories for her individual weight restoration or weight maintenance needs.

The first step in working toward proper nourishment is a thorough nutrition assessment and the development of an individualize plan of care. During the nutrition assessment, the RD learns the history of the eating disorder, including restricting, exercising, binging, and/or purging behaviors. It is during this meeting that the RD gets to know the patient and discovers her motivation for treatment and recovery.

Reaching a Healthy Weight
An important part of establishing a healthy goal weight is the patient’s weight history. This history includes the patients highest/lowest weight and what behaviors led to those particular weights. The patient’s “fear” weight helps the RD understand how much support and education will be needed as she progresses in weight restoration. A patient’s family weight history is also taken into account when establishing a goal weight as a consideration of the genetic component of body weight.

During the nutrition assessment process, body composition measurements are taken in the form of skinfold measurements using Lange skinfold calipers. These measurements, along with height, weight, frame size, and age are inserted into a scientifically developed formula, which calculates percent body fat and muscle mass. Based on these body composition values, the patient’s weight history, the family’s weight history, and any available growth charts, the dietitian is able to establish an Ideal Body Weight (IBW). 

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