Introducing EDRD Pro member Amber Young, MS, RD, LDN (she/her)! Keep reading to learn more about Amber and her wonderful work!

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Where are you from, and where do you currently live and work?

I’m from Monroe, NC, and currently live and work in Concord, NC – both are close to the Charlotte area.

What’s your favorite meal?

Moules-frites, which is French for mussels and fries. I’ve been practicing French since the start of high school and studied abroad in Paris in undergrad, so I have a deep love for French cuisine. Plus, this dish is so hard to find (especially one that’s done well), which makes it even more special when I do!

Tell us about the journey that brought you to work in eating disorder treatment.

Like many others, my own eating disorder steered me into the nutrition field. I found recovery as I continued my education, which led to exploring the eating disorder field. I could now clearly see diet culture and the ways it impacted me as a little girl. I wanted no part in perpetuating it as a professional.

During my dietetic internship, I completed a rotation at a PHP/IOP ED treatment facility with a badass EDRD, who inspired and empowered me to do this work. After getting my license, I continued working in outpatient and at another local PHO/IOP ED program. In 2021, I started and went full-time at my private practice, Redefined Nutrition.

I feel incredibly lucky to do this work. Supporting others through their recovery helps me find meaning in my own struggles and turn pain into purpose. It’s a daily reminder that healing is possible, and that even the most difficult parts of our stories can be used to create connection, hope, and change.

If you could choose to have dinner with anyone, who would it be and why?

I’m sure my answer might change by the day, but right now it’s Lady Gaga. I’ve been a fan since the start of her career and have always been inspired by her authenticity, advocacy, and creativity. I actually cried watching her recent Coachella performance from my living room, just feeling moved by seeing an artist fully embodying her work and connecting with her fans in a meaningful way.

What is a piece of career advice that you would share with someone starting off in the eating disorder field?

You’re going to mess up. You’re going to get it wrong sometimes. And that’s okay. What’s important is your ability to name it when it happens, learn from it, and repair. It’s a gift to be able to show our clients that we’re also imperfect humans.

What’s something that’s brought you joy recently?

Roller skating. It’s my favorite form of joyful movement, and I feel most embodied with skates on my feet. My husband and I go to our local rink every Monday night to practice, which has been the best way to start the week. 

What’s something you’ve learned recently?

I’ve reached the age where birds are more interesting, which you think is a joke until it happens to you. We just had some blue birds nest in our bird house and lay a clutch, so I’m learning more about their life stages and how to make sure they stay safe until fledging.

Why eating disorder treatment? What drives you to do this work?

Eating disorder treatment feels like both a calling and a responsibility. As an Enneagram 1, I have a strong internal sense of justice, which shows up in my desire to push back against the systems that actively cause harm, such as diet culture, anti-fatness, and white-supremacy. Supporting clients in reclaiming peace with food and body is a way I can contribute to individual healing while also working toward broader change.

What drives me is seeing the transformation that happens when clients begin to unlearn shame, reconnect with their body’s needs, and discover what nourishment can look like outside the confines of diet culture. I’m honored to walk alongside people as they reclaim their autonomy, build self-compassion, and move toward a version of health that feels truly their own.

Do you have specific areas of interest or special populations with whom you work?

I primarily work with adults with eating disorders, disordered eating, or a history of chronic dieting – all from a weight-inclusive, neuro-affirming approach. I particularly love working with clients with ADHD and/or struggling with binge eating. I’m a late-diagnosed ADHDer, and my diagnosis made a lot of things finally click for me. I gradually unpacked (and continue to!) my own internalized ableism to accept myself, and, through that process, my work with clients shifted as well. It’s incredibly powerful to witness someone stop shaming themselves for how their brain works and instead work towards accepting and accommodating it.

I’m deeply committed to providing affirming care for the LGBTQIA+ community. As a member of Charlotte Trans Health, I actively engage in ongoing learning and advocacy to better serve queer and trans clients with the care they deserve.

What’s your favorite part about being involved with EDRD Pro?

The resources and community! I owe so much of my education and training in eating disorders to EDRD Pro. I’m forever grateful that I found this community at the start of my ED career 5 years ago.

What projects, products, or services do you offer that you want to share with our audience?

I just expanded my team at Redefined Nutrition for the first time! If you’re looking for compassionate, weight-inclusive, non-diet, neuro-affirming RDs in NC, we’ve got you covered. We’re in network with BCBS and Aetna!