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Fueling the Future: Recognizing and Treating ARFID in Youth Sport

October 14 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am PDT

While recognition of ARFID in youth populations is improving, it is still often overlooked or dismissed as age-appropriate picky eating. However, ARFID symptoms often become more apparent and severe in adolescent athletes as training volume increases significantly. This presentation describes how and why ARFID uniquely manifests in youth athletic settings.

Attendees will learn about the primary medical, developmental, and performance consequences of ARFID in athletes, highlighting emerging research. The session will highlight the importance of thoughtful, coordinated care among medical providers, dietitians, mental health clinicians, coaches, and families.

Case examples will be used to illustrate best practices for nutritional restoration. Participants will learn how to deliver effective nutrition interventions for ARFID in young athletes, and how best to work collaboratively with the individual’s existing support team.

Learning Objectives:

Following this presentation, participants will:

  1. Describe the medical, nutritional, and psychological risks of ARFID in young athletes, including impacts on growth, development, bone health, and performance.
  2. Identify 3 key red flags/indicators of ARFID specific to youth in competitive sports
  3. List 3 evidence-based nutrition interventions for youth athletes with ARFID (in order of importance/urgency)
  4. Name 3 tips for communicating effectively with families and coaches/training staff

Level B: Skills and Application                                           

At this level, learners move beyond theory to actively apply knowledge in practical settings. Emphasis is on developing proficiency, problem-solving, and hands-on skills that can be implemented in real-world scenarios. Ideal for practitioners looking to strengthen their capabilities.

 

Megan Hellner, DrPH, MPH, RD Bio:

Dr. Megan Hellner is a California-based researcher and registered dietitian with 20(ish) years of experience treating athletes with eating disorders. Throughout her career, she’s partnered with numerous sport organizations nationwide as both a clinician and educator, and served as a founding dietitian for several eating disorder treatment programs. Dr.’s Hellner and Hill are the co-founders of AhtleatMD, a virtual multi-state practice providing medical and nutrition support to athletes with disordered eating and/or REDs.

Katherine Hill, MD, FAAP Bio:

Katherine Hill, MD is a pediatrician and eating disorder specialist with over 15 years of experience in the field, first getting interested in athletes and disordered eating as an NCAA Division I swimmer. She completed medical school and pediatric residency at Stanford, and spent 4 years as faculty at Stanford as Clinical Assistant Professor of Adolescent Medicine. She then served as the lead medical doctor and Vice President of Medical Affairs and Care Delivery at Equip Health for nearly 5 years before joining forces with Dr. Hellner to found AthleatMD.

Details

  • Date: October 14
  • Time:
    10:00 am - 11:00 am PDT
  • Event Category:

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