Alison Pelz, RD,LD, LCSW

Alison Pelz, RD,LD, LCSW Alison Pelz is a psychotherapist and registered dietitian who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders.

Specializing in the treatment of eating disorders and related disorders including emotional eating, chronic dieting & poor body image.

Weight bias and stigma are socially acceptable and are reinforced in the media through the negative portrayal of those l...
03/11/2026

Weight bias and stigma are socially acceptable and are reinforced in the media through the negative portrayal of those living in large bodies. They are present in most aspects of life including education, business, and healthcare.

Weight bias and stigma continue to reinforce the idea that large bodies are unhealthy with little to no data to back this up. What we do know for sure is that weight bias and stigma themselves, independent of body size, contribute to poorer health outcomes.

Learn more here: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2020/10/21/weight-bias-and-stigma/

Weight bias and stigma are rarely discussed in traditional medical and mental healthcare settings, further perpetuating ...
03/09/2026

Weight bias and stigma are rarely discussed in traditional medical and mental healthcare settings, further perpetuating them. Weight bias and stigma continue to reinforce the idea that large bodies are unhealthy with little to no data to back this up.

What we do know for sure is that weight bias and stigma themselves, independent of body size, contribute to poorer health outcomes.

Weight-based discrimination is just what it sounds like. It is discriminating against people based on their body size, u...
03/06/2026

Weight-based discrimination is just what it sounds like. It is discriminating against people based on their body size, usually large body size. Other terms used to describe it include fatphobia and sizeism.

It is well documented that rates of weight bias and stigma are on the rise. In fact, weight stigma and bias happen at higher rates than discrimination based on age or gender.

Weight bias and stigma can affect physical and mental health independent of body size in various ways – learn how here: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2020/10/21/weight-bias-and-stigma/

Having the support system in place when seeking treatment for an eating disorder can make all the difference. All too of...
03/02/2026

Having the support system in place when seeking treatment for an eating disorder can make all the difference. All too often I have clients who have been struggling for years with an eating disorder who haven’t ever had a true treatment team in place. Without one, the likelihood of a full recovery is often greatly reduced.

Who should you look toward to build your treatment team? Learn more here: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2018/04/10/building-a-treatment-team-conquer-ed/

If you’re an adult with ARFID, you are not “just a picky eater” or “difficult.” Rather, you deserve to receive care that...
02/27/2026

If you’re an adult with ARFID, you are not “just a picky eater” or “difficult.” Rather, you deserve to receive care that addresses ARFID as a legitimate eating disorder. It is not too late to change your relationship with food and, most importantly, reduce feelings of shame about your eating.

Do you want to learn more about your treatment options? Sign up for a free consultation to learn more about how I can help you: https://www.alisonpelz.com/contact/

Often, people who experience ARFID struggle to eat due to sensory differences, fear, and/or low hunger. Even when they m...
02/25/2026

Often, people who experience ARFID struggle to eat due to sensory differences, fear, and/or low hunger. Even when they may feel hungry, eating feels too overwhelming.

Your ARFID may have developed due to medical or chronic conditions that started in childhood or adulthood. For instance, gastrointestinal disorders (IBS, gastroparesis, heartburn, etc.), chronic nausea or vomiting, pain with eating or swallowing, and sensory differences, are a few common examples.

ARFID can also develop if you had a traumatic event around food, such as a choking episode, allergic reaction, vomiting, or other medical emergency involving food.

Over time, food avoidance may become reinforced as a protective strategy, thereby reducing discomfort, symptoms, or fear of symptom flare-ups. While initially adaptive, this avoidance can evolve into a rigid restriction that persists even when medical symptoms improve.

Learn more about ARFID in adults here: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2026/02/11/adults-and-arfid/

People do not “grow out of” ARFID simply because they age. Many adults meet full diagnostic criteria, experience signifi...
02/23/2026

People do not “grow out of” ARFID simply because they age. Many adults meet full diagnostic criteria, experience significant impairment, and struggle to access appropriate care, often because ARFID is still viewed primarily as a childhood condition.

Learn more about ARFID in adults here: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2026/02/11/adults-and-arfid/

When Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is discussed, the focus is often on children. Pediatric feeding c...
02/20/2026

When Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is discussed, the focus is often on children. Pediatric feeding clinics, early intervention models, and parent-led treatment approaches dominate the literature and training spaces. While this work is essential, it can unintentionally leave an important group of overlooked: adults with ARRID.

Learn more about ARFID in adults here: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2026/02/11/adults-and-arfid/

Whether you are an individual with an eating disorder or a loved one of a person with an eating disorder, looking for a ...
02/11/2026

Whether you are an individual with an eating disorder or a loved one of a person with an eating disorder, looking for a qualified therapist can be tough.

This post will give you tips on what to look for in a treatment provider, and questions to ask to help you determine the right eating disorder therapist for you: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2019/06/12/questions-for-eating-disorder-therapist/

Curious how validation can change your relationship with your teen? Sign up for our email list and we’ll send you a free...
02/09/2026

Curious how validation can change your relationship with your teen?

Sign up for our email list and we’ll send you a free copy of our workbook “What to Say (And Not to Say) to Your Teen With an Eating Disorder: A Caregiver's Workbook”. You can use the workbook as a caregiver or as a clinician to give out to your clients!

This free caregiver workbook includes:
* An overview of what validation is (and crucially, what it isn’t)
* Space for caregivers to reflect and explore their feelings about their child’s eating disorder
* Phrases to use and not to use when validating
* Space so caregivers can practice validating responses to their child to support their child in recovery

Get your copy here: https://www.pelzinstitute.com/offer-parents-teens-eatingdisorders

Levels of care refer to how much support is needed to reduce eating disorder behaviors during treatment. Several levels ...
02/06/2026

Levels of care refer to how much support is needed to reduce eating disorder behaviors during treatment. Several levels of care may be utilized throughout treatment for an eating disorder, based on what is necessary for the person in recovery. Levels of care in eating disorder treatment are selected based on many factors - these are some of them.

Learn more about levels of care in eating disorder treatment here: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2024/10/01/levels-of-care-in-eating-disorder-treatment-how-to-choose-the-right-option/

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2525 Wallingwood Drive
Austin, TX
78746

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Monday 9am - 2pm
Tuesday 9am - 2pm
Wednesday 9am - 2pm
Thursday 9am - 2pm
Friday 9am - 2pm

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+15122935770

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