Weight Management

Programs for weight management are developed by undergoing an in-depth nutrition assessment and history. We believe that the history can determine how the initial weight gain began. Common causes of weight gain are often chronic dieting, emotional eating or chaotic eating. Once the cause is determined, a new lifestyle plan can be developed in order to promote a permanent weight loss. Dieting and diet mentality is usually counterproductive, since it promotes feelings of deprivation which eventually result in rebound eating. Private or group therapy using non-diet methods is available.

If you are planning to take medication for weight loss or you have already started taking medication, we can assist you with an individualized nutrition evaluation.  We can help you to minimize side effects from the drug, prevent muscle loss while promoting fat loss, and can help you prevent nutritional deficiencies.  We can also help you to establish new food and lifestyle habits so that weight loss can be permanent vs. having rebound weight gain after your personal goals are reached.

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders counseling focuses on the nutritional and physical aspects of anorexia, bulimia and binge eating.  Barbara Cox works with a team of professionals which may include a physician, therapist, psychiatrist, and family.  Nutrition therapy for eating disorders is provided in either private or group therapy.   A non diet approach which promotes eating intuitively is used in the recovery of eating disorders.  Eating disorders involve serious psychological and physical disturbances that can have life threatening consequences.  Eating disorders always require professional help.  Nutrition therapy required depends on the type of eating disorder present.  There are four different types of eating disorders.

These include:

• Anorexia Nervosa
  Nutrition therapy provides clients with knowledge and skills which will help to feed the body for physical recovery.  Nutrition therapy for anorexia nervosa includes working in conjunction with the M.D. and mental health therapist to keep nutrition stores and weight at a healthy level.  When a minimum intake of major nutrients is not met, it can impede recovery, making it difficult to make progress with emotional therapy.  Malnutrition can promote a rapid weight and muscle loss, and can weaken the heart and eventually cause sudden heart failure and possibly death.  Nutrition therapy can help to stabilize clients physically while physical and cognitive function improve.
• Bulimia Nervosa
  Nutrition therapy for bulimia nervosa involves educating the client of the physical dangers of the binge-purge cycle, while helping them to achieve a normal relationship with food.  In conjunction with the mental health therapist, nutrition therapy can help to eliminate bingeing, purgeing, intense feelings of shame, and the obsession with food and weight.  A non diet method is used in the treatment of bulimia nervosa.  Frequent purgeing can result in a very low potassium level in the blood, which can cause heart arrhythmias and sudden heart failure, possibly resulting in death.
• Binge Eating Disorder
  Nutrition therapy for binge eating disorder can help clients to decrease consumption of large volumes of food (binges) while lowering health risks such as high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and heart disease.  In conjunction with the mental health therapist, nutrition therapy can help to establish a normal pattern of eating and eliminate or decrease frequency of binge eating.  Non diet therapy and a moderate activity plan can help these clients to lose weight slowly and permanently.
• Disordered Eating (abnormal eating which does not fall into the above 3 categories)

Since there tends to be a lot of fear involved with eating disorders, the pace of progress may be slow at first and will require communication with other members of the professional team.

Wellness & Lifestyle

Many people are realizing that adopting a healthy lifestyle can prevent illness and increase the quality of life.  We teach the non-diet approach where recognizing body cues such as hunger and fullness while enjoying flavors of favorite foods is promoted.  Clients are encouraged to set realistic weight loss goals that are within their reach, rather than setting the goals so high that they may set them up for failure.  There is no failure associated with the non-diet approach; only steady progress! Clients find a good balance with enjoying food while maintaining good health.

Medical Nutrition Therapy – Adults

Medical nutrition therapy counseling is helpful in the treatment of many diseases and illness. These may include special nutrition plans and counseling for:

• Diabetes Mellitus
• Heart Disease
• High Blood Pressure
• High Cholesterol
• High Triglycerides
• Post menopausal weight gain
• Chronic kidney insufficiency
• Digestive problems
• Fatty liver or Liver disease
• Tube feeding management/IV nutrition
• Malnutrition/low body weight
• Chronic obstructive sleep apnea
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
• Celiac Disease
• Food Allergy
• Obesity
• High Risk Pregnancy

Medical Nutrition Therapy – Children

Pediatric Nutrition is another area that Barbara Cox specializes in.  She has been involved in early childhood intervention programs in both California and Nevada.  Some of the pediatric problems which need nutrition intervention may include:

• Eating Disorders (may be seen as young as 7 or 8 years of age)
• Childhood obesity
• Failure to Thrive (poor growth)
• Sensory integration issues (i.e. picky eating)
• Food Allergy
• Feeding problems (behavioral or mechanical)
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Celiac Disease
• Digestive problems
• Food intolerances
• Developmental Delays
• Tube feedings/IV Nutrition to promote normal growth
• Hyperlipidemia

To get started, all you need to do is schedule an appointment.

Getting Started

After receiving your phone call we will be pleased to answer any questions you may have.

We typically recommend completing the nutrition assessment and evaluation process which may take 1 to 3 visits to complete.  After goals are set and a plan is made, the frequency of follow up visits is discussed and tailored to your needs and schedule.  We are available Wednesday through Friday by appointment only.

To help defray the cost of nutritional counseling, we are a preferred provider for many major insurance companies, and we are happy to provide the billing services for each session.   We can also serve as an “out of network” provider if we are not on the provider list for your insurance.  Many insurance companies will still cover 50-75% of the cost for out of network providers.  The cost of the session may be due at the time of service, depending on the insurance company.  Just ask!

If you have any other questions, you can email us at [email protected].  We look forward to hearing from you!

To get started, all you need to do is schedule an appointment.

Fees & Insurance Coverage

FEES:

Initial Nutrition assessment and evaluation                  $225 (comprehensive 1 1/2 hour appointment) *

Follow up Nutrition visit                                                    $175 (1 hour appointment) *

* Your appointment is reserved just for you.  Reservations require a credit card or payment be provided when booking an appointment.  Cancellations are accepted without charge 24 hours or more before appointment time.  Late cancellations or no shows will be charged for the entire amount of appointment.

INSURANCE COVERAGE:

We are providers for many different insurance companies.  Coverage varies, depending on the benefit plan you have.

Currently, we are providers for Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and Hometown Health Plan.  Other insurance companies may cover a portion of our fees as non participating providers.  Please email [email protected] to check on your individual benefit plan if you are not sure if nutrition therapy is covered.

To get started, all you need to do is schedule an appointment.