NCAND Educational Meeting in April 2025

Time

Session Title/Speaker

Location

8:00 am

Registration Opens/Coffee/Visit Exhibitors

outside room 6

8:25 - 8:30 am

Welcome and Announcements

room 6

8:30 - 9:30

"The Neurobiological Nexus: Understanding the Brain-Nutrition Interplay in Eating Disorder Treatment" - Leah L Graves, RDN, LDN, CEDS-C, FAED

Lecture Summary: Recent advances in the neuroscience of eating disorders highlight how differences in brain circuitry may influence eating behavior, food selection, and overall nutritional state. This presentation will explore how understanding these neurobiological factors can lead to more effective, individualized nutrition therapy. The session will outline evidence-based strategies for integrating neurobiological insights into tailored nutritional interventions, optimizing treatment outcomes for individuals with eating disorders.

room 6

9:30 - 10:30

"Weight Neutral Approaches to Eating Disorders" - Ayron E Walker, MS, PhD, RDN, LDN

Lecture Summary: Many approaches to eating disorder diagnosis, prevention, and treatment are centered around weight. However, disordered eating and eating disorders can (and do) happen at any size. In fact, some research suggests that eating disorder behavior happens more among individuals that are concerned about their weight. Therefore, this lecture will provide an engaging and interactive discussion and presentation on weight-neutrality in eating disorder prevention, care, and treatment.

room 6

10:30 - 11:00

Break - Visit Exhibitors

room 5

11:00 am - 12:00 pm

"The Dietitians' Role in Supporting Eating Disorder Recovery" - Jennifer N Tebb, MS, RDN, CSSD, LDN, CEDS

Lecture Summary: Do you feel prepared to support your patients with disordered eating patterns? People seeking nutritional intervention may feel uncertain or judgmental of their relationship with food which can increase their susceptibility to disordered eating. Additionally, it is common for patients needing support for an eating disorder to establish care with a dietitian first before working with a therapist or medical provider. This presentation aims to provide basic information about eating disorders and disordered eating patterns for all dietitians, especially those who do not specialize in prevention and treatment of disordered eating. Current criteria for diagnosing and identifying disordered eating will be reviewed. Methods of screening for disordered eating and partnering with eating disorder specialists will be identified. The role of the dietitian in preventing disordered eating patterns with food, and treating eating disorders will be discussed.

room 6

12:00 - 12:30 

Lunch & Visit Exhibitors

room 5

12:30 - 1:30 

"Seeing RED-S: How to Identify and Support Athletes with Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport" - Liz Hurley Raynor, MS, RD, LDN, CSCS

Lecture Summary: It's estimated that 87% of athletes ages 14-34 have at least 1 symptom of RED-S. In this presentation we'll define RED-S, discuss how to identify signs and symptoms, review recent research on RED-S and Low Energy Availability (LEA), and provide recommendations for supporting athletes with RED-S as a dietitian.

room 6

1:30 - 1:45 

Coffee Break & Visit Exhibits

room 5

1:45 - 2:45

"Fixing One Thing to Break Another" - Jayme Limbaugh, RDN, MS, CSCS, CDCES 

Lecture Summary: Simply addressing one aspect of diet or lifestyle can have unintended, negative consequences. Drastic calorie restriction may lead to initial weight loss, but often results in metabolic adaptation and muscle loss. Eliminating entire food groups can cause nutrient deficiencies and unsustainable eating patterns. The lecture highlights the need to consider the interconnectedness of physiological systems, including metabolic, hormonal, and psychological factors. Sustainable weight loss requires a balanced approach that addresses macronutrient intake, behavioral habits, and overall well-being, rather than focusing on quick fixes that ultimately 'break' the body's natural balance.

room 6

2:45 - 3:45 pm

"Sports Nutrition: Inflammation, Injury Prevention and Recovery" - Marie Ann Spano, MS, RD, CSCS, CSSD

Lecture Summary: Registered dietitians play a crucial role helping fuel athletes and non-athletes like with the nutrients needed to prevent injuries and improve outcomes post injury. This session will uncover the most important nutrition strategies to help ligament strength, tendon health, muscle healing, brain health post concussion and wound healing while helping decrease the cycle of chronic inflammation in injured athletes.

room 6

3:45 pm

Adjourn

The Dairy Alliance
Healthcare Services Group