Intuitive eating (IE) has gained popularity as a sustainable approach to nutrition and body image. This philosophy encourages individuals to listen to their bodies’ cues and remove food morality, fostering a healthier relationship with food. However, its benefits extend beyond individual well-being; intuitive eating can be a transformative tool for various client populations, including those dealing with chronic illnesses and eating disorders.
In this blog post, we’ll explore how intuitive eating can be adapted and applied across different clients with specific disease states and eating patterns, highlighting its potential to empower individuals to reclaim their autonomy over food choices. By understanding the unique needs of each population, we can better appreciate the versatility of intuitive eating and its role in promoting holistic health.
We spoke with three registered dietitians who specialize in different client populations to see how they use intuitive eating in their practices and how it helps their clients improve their health.
How do you use intuitive with your clients?
Shannon Herbert PhD, RD, CDN, registered dietitian at Laura Cipullo Whole Nutrition Services: I use IE in clients with polycystic ovary syndrome. I enjoy using principles of IE to help clients reconnect with their bodies, reduce the guilt and shame they feel around food and eating, and re-establish a more positive, balanced view of themselves and their eating.
Rebecca Stetzer, RD, CD, registered dietitian at Erica Leon Nutrition & Associates: One type of client I use IE with is clients with binge eating. I might talk about how we start with structure and making sure the client is eating adequately for their body, and as we go along in that process I will integrate conversations and practices that help the client re-establish attunement to their body cues. We will explore what kinds of disrupters they have in their lives such as distractions, thoughts, food rules, and beliefs and lack of self-care that interferes with their ability to hear and respond to the needs of their body.
Faith Aronowitz, MS, RD, CDN: One specific type of client with whom I often use Intuitive Eating with are those struggling with IBS. Many of these clients come to me feeling frustrated and anxious about food after trying various (unnecessarily) restrictive diets without symptom improvement or relief. We work on creating space to pause during meals, tuning into hunger and fullness cues, and noticing how they physically and emotionally feel before, during, and after meals. This helps clients tune into their body’s signals rather than relying solely on external food rules.
What do you see as the benefits?
Shannon: So much of the focus of PCOS management has been on weight, despite PCOS affecting individuals across body sizes and the high prevalence of disordered eating in the PCOS population. Research has shown that there is no one dietary approach that is superior for managing PCOS and that health benefits can be had by making changes to diet even in the absence of changes in weight. Thus, I find that IE can be one tool to help individuals with PCOS over time let go of restricting dieting and truly learn how to nourish their bodies in a way that is satisfying to their taste buds and helpful for the management of the condition.
Rebecca: The reason I think using intuitive eating is helpful in the population of clients with binge eating disorder is that so much of what drives binge eating is a chaotic and dysfunctional relationship with food. What drives binge eating is restrictive behaviors with food and strong beliefs about what a person should or should not be eating. Emotional eating also drives binge eating, of course. But part of intuitive eating is recognizing how the lack of self-care can interfere with a person’s ability to hear and respond to the needs of their body in a timely manner, and this includes healthy management of emotions.
Faith: The benefits I see in this population are reduced stress around eating, less fear with respect to adverse symptoms, and a more positive relationship with food overall. Many clients report fewer IBS flare-ups as they learn to honor their body’s needs and identify personal dietary triggers without unnecessary restriction.
When do you introduce intuitive to this population?
Shannon: When to introduce IE and what principles to introduce depends on the client. If clients have a long history of restricting in an effort to manage PCOS, we may first work to reject the diet mentality. Many clients with PCOS are accustomed to relying on external cues to eating, that re-learning interoception and how their body is communicating with them can take time. Therefore, we may first prioritize adequate nourishment with balanced nutrition. Then, we can work towards reacquainting them with their hunger and fullness and re-establishing the bodily trust.
Rebecca: I tend to introduce intuitive eating from the very beginning. I talk about how everyone is born with the ability to self-regulate according to what their body’s needs are. We explore how external factors such as dieting, diet culture, rules and beliefs around food in their family, etc. has shaped their current food beliefs and food rules and eating behaviors. The key to introducing intuitive eating from the very beginning is helping the client to set realistic expectations for themselves. By that I mean they’re not going to be able to be fully intuitive eaters from the beginning, but that through practice and patience they will be able to develop those skills again. I think that it really provides hope for clients with binge eating that they can not only eat normally again but that they can find peace with food.
Faith: I typically introduce Intuitive Eating concepts after we’ve addressed any immediate nutritional concerns and/or comorbid diagnoses, and the client feels ready to explore a more flexible approach to eating. This may happen during our initial consultation for some, or several weeks into our work together, for others. The timing typically depends on how many layers of unnecessary restriction we need to unravel.
