Gastroparesis, Eating Disorders, and Nutrition: A Weight-Inclusive Approach to Healing
Many people with eating disorders experience severe gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, including bloating, nausea, early fullness, and stomach pain. One condition that can develop or worsen due to disordered eating is gastroparesis—a condition where the stomach empties food too slowly.
If you’re struggling with gastroparesis, you’re not alone. Understanding the connection between disordered eating, gut health, and nutrition support is key to finding relief and healing.
What Is Gastroparesis?
Gastroparesis is a condition that affects the normal movement of the stomach muscles, slowing or even stopping the emptying of food into the small intestine. This delayed gastric emptying can cause uncomfortable symptoms such as:
Nausea and vomiting
Bloating and early fullness
Abdominal pain
Unpredictable appetite changes
While gastroparesis is commonly linked to diabetes (due to nerve damage from high blood sugar levels), it can also occur in neurological conditions (such as Parkinson’s disease or MS), autoimmune diseases (such as lupus), post-surgical complications, viral infections, and even with no identifiable cause (idiopathic gastroparesis).
However, gastroparesis is also increasingly recognized in individuals with a history of disordered eating.
How Eating Disorders Contribute to Gastroparesis
When the body is deprived of consistent, adequate nutrition due to restriction, purging, or other disordered behaviors, digestion slows down. Here’s why:
Restriction leads to gut atrophy and slowed gastric emptying. The stomach is a muscle, and when food intake is inadequate, it weakens over time. This results in food staying in the stomach longer, leading to symptoms like fullness, nausea, and bloating.
The gut-brain axis is disrupted. The nervous system plays a crucial role in digestion. Chronic stress, anxiety, and malnutrition impair communication between the brain and the stomach, worsening symptoms.
Mental and emotional health impact digestion. Fear of food, anxiety around eating, and stress about body image activate the body’s fight-or-flight response, which slows digestion.
Over-exercise can worsen symptoms. While gentle movement can support digestion, excessive or compulsive exercise can actually slow gastric motility by increasing stress hormones and diverting blood flow away from the digestive system.
For some, gastroparesis develops after an eating disorder. For others, gastroparesis symptoms trigger food avoidance and disordered eating behaviors. Either way, nutritional rehabilitation is a delicate but essential part of healing.
Healing Gastroparesis Through Eating Disorder Recovery
Many traditional approaches to managing gastroparesis focus on elimination diets and restriction—but for those with a history of disordered eating, this approach can do more harm than good. Instead, healing comes from:
Restoring consistent nourishment – Working with a dietitian to gradually reintroduce food and regulate digestion without unnecessary restriction.
Addressing the gut-brain connection – Mindfulness, stress management, and gut-directed therapy can help regulate digestion and ease symptoms.
Prioritizing weight-inclusive, non-restrictive care – Rather than focusing on weight-based goals, care should be rooted in symptom management, nutrient adequacy, and self-compassion.
Finding gentle nutrition strategies – Instead of rigid meal plans, an RD can help adjust textures, portion sizes, and meal timing to improve digestion.
How a Registered Dietitian (RD) Supports Individuals with Gastroparesis
A weight-inclusive, anti-diet RD plays a crucial role in helping individuals with gastroparesis navigate nutrition in a way that supports both symptom relief and adequate nourishment.
What Does a Dietitian Do for Gastroparesis?
Tailors nutrition strategies to symptom patterns – Since there’s no one-size-fits-all gastroparesis diet, an RD helps clients find foods and meal patterns that work for their unique needs.
Reduces unnecessary food fears – Many individuals with gastroparesis are told to follow rigid, overly restrictive diets. An RD helps separate what’s truly needed from what’s unnecessary to maintain flexibility and nourishment.
Supports nutrient adequacy – Even with digestive challenges, it’s essential to ensure adequate energy, protein, and micronutrient intake to prevent malnutrition.
Guides gentle, sustainable nutrition interventions – Instead of extreme restrictions, RDs focus on meal timing, hydration, symptom-friendly food textures, and gradual reintroduction of foods.
Helps navigate emotional eating concerns – If gastroparesis is connected to a history of disordered eating, body image distress, or food anxiety, an RD provides guidance on rebuilding trust with food.
What to Expect in a Dietitian Session for Gastroparesis
If you’re struggling with gastroparesis, working with a dietitian can provide individualized support and relief from the frustration of conflicting dietary advice. Here’s what a session might look like:
Symptom & Nutrition Assessment
Your RD will help you identify patterns in your symptoms, food intake, and digestion to create a personalized plan that supports both symptom management and nourishment.
Exploring Flexible Nutrition Strategies
Rather than following strict elimination diets, an RD will work with you to:
Adjust food textures for better digestion (e.g., blended or soft foods)
Experiment with meal frequency and portion sizes
Find liquids and hydration strategies that support digestion
Incorporate balanced nutrients without over-restriction
Addressing the Emotional Side of Gastroparesis
For those with a history of disordered eating, gastroparesis can be an emotional trigger—whether it’s frustration with limited food choices, fear of eating, or discomfort in social food situations. Your RD will help you develop tools to navigate mealtimes without stress or shame.
How Intuitive Eating & Weight-Inclusive Care Fit with Gastroparesis Nutrition
Traditional gastroparesis diets often focus heavily on restriction—eliminating fiber, fat, and solid foods entirely. While modifications can be helpful, extreme restriction can lead to:
Inadequate calorie and nutrient intake
Increased fear of food and avoidance of eating
Social isolation from mealtimes
Heightened anxiety around symptoms
A weight-inclusive, HAES-aligned approach prioritizes:
Adequate nourishment over arbitrary weight goals
Reducing food fears and rigidity around nutrition
Empowering individuals in their care rather than just following strict protocols
Recognizing that all bodies deserve nourishment, regardless of size or diagnosis
While hunger/fullness cues may not always apply to gastroparesis, the core principles of intuitive eating still align:
Gentle Nutrition: Honoring the body’s needs without unnecessary restriction.
Body Trust: Recognizing that even with digestive challenges, the body deserves nourishment.
Reducing Food Fear: Reframing gastroparesis nutrition beyond just “safe” vs. “unsafe” foods.
Flexibility: Instead of rigid meal plans, working with the body’s needs as they fluctuate.
When Should You Seek Help from a Registered Dietitian?
If you have gastroparesis and are experiencing any of the following, it may be time to seek professional support:
Persistent nausea, bloating, or early fullness that interferes with eating
Unintentional weight loss or nutrient deficiencies
Struggles with meal planning due to gastroparesis restrictions
Anxiety, guilt, or fear around eating
History of disordered eating that makes navigating gastroparesis challenging
A registered dietitian trained in gastroparesis, intuitive eating, and weight-inclusive care can help you feel confident in your nutrition choices—without unnecessary stress or restriction.
Find Support at Mind Belly Soul Nutrition
At Mind Belly Soul Nutrition, we specialize in helping individuals with gastroparesis navigate nutrition in a sustainable, compassionate way.
Personalized, non-restrictive nutrition care
A safe, judgment-free space to rebuild trust with food
Guidance on symptom management, formula adjustments, and flexible eating strategies
Ready to explore a more intuitive, sustainable approach to gastroparesis nutrition? Contact us today to get started!
