Shifting the Focus: A Weight-Neutral Approach to Nutrition and Health in Primary Care.

In this session, attendees will explore the limitations of weight-centric care in primary care settings and the growing body of evidence supporting a weight-neutral approach. The presentation will focus on the importance of screening for eating disorders, understanding the impact of weight stigma, and utilizing Intuitive Eating principles to foster healthier relationships with food. Attendees will also learn practical strategies for supporting patients in achieving long-term health goals without focusing on weight loss. By shifting from BMI and weight-based metrics to a more holistic, individualized approach, healthcare providers can make a bigger impact in preventative care, and improve health outcomes. We will review validated screening tools for identifying eating disorders in the primary care setting and discuss commonly misunderstood eating disorders, such as atypical anorexia and binge eating disorder (BED), that are often overlooked in primary care.