Interview with San Diego Eating Disorder Pediatrician, Dr. Christine Wood, M.D.
Hello all! Dr. Christine Wood is an amazing eating disorder pediatrician with whom I’ve collaborated over the past few years. She works in private practice at Coast Pediatrics in Carmel Valley, and she also serves as the medical consultant at the La Jolla Residential Treatment Center (RTC) for Center for Discovery. Hands down, I believe that Dr. Christine Wood is the top eating disorder pediatrician in San Diego.
Why did you choose to become an eating disorder specialist in San Diego?
My book titled "How to Get Kids to Eat Great and Love It" was published in 2000. I was doing speaking at conferences on the topic of childhood nutrition and was also the Co-Chair of the San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative. I started to have families seek me out for information on their picky eaters and overweight children and teens. However, when it came to the teens especially, I saw that there were more factors than just picking healthy foods, and I would delve into stress, emotional eating and family structure around food. In many ways, there is an overlap with the issues with teens who were overeating and those we may be undereating, or the classic eating disorder patients. I became involved in the San Diego chapter of IAEDP (International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals foundation) and served on the board as the medical liaison and started my learning curve to understand more about treating eating disorders.
What kind of treatment do you provide?
Currently, I am in a private practice at Coast Pediatrics Carmel Valley, which I love because of its small size and my ability to work with my patients and families closely. I will see new eating disorder patients in my office up to age 24. I also have been the medical consultant for the six-bed residential treatment center in La Jolla with Center for Discovery since the facility opened in 2013.
Do you work with only eating disorders?
I am still practicing general pediatrics and see newborns up to age 24.
How long have you been working with eating disorders overall, and how long have you been in San Diego?
I started in general pediatric practice in 1990 and have been working more in the eating disorder field for about the last 15 years.
Who are your favorite types of clients to work with?
Patients who I can educate about the medical concerns about their eating disorder and they understand that they have to make a change. These clients are willing to work with a team of support people involving a therapist, dietitian and myself.
What happens during a first appointment with you?
I will find out more about their nutritional and exercise attitudes and habits, but I will also delve into their stressors, past trauma and history.
What do you wish people knew about getting treatment for eating disorders?
Mostly I wish the general public and parents had a greater understanding about eating disorders. I have had many clients over the years, tell me when they were a child or a teen, a coach or doctor told them they were overweight and should lose weight. Or they had a parent who was constantly dieting and obsessing about their own weight. These children and teens had outside influences that triggered them down a dangerous path.
How can people learn more and contact you?
They can see my website www.kidseatgreat.com and contact me through my office at Coast Pediatrics Carmel Valley at www.coastpediatrics.com.
Share one fun fact about you.
My husband and I are both avid tennis players and my son is a tennis teaching professional up in Los Angeles, teaching high level junior level players.
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Thanks so much for reading my blog! Have a wonderful week!
Marianne :)
If you are struggling to find eating disorder treatment in San Diego give me a call for your free 15-minute phone consultation at (858) 699-3754, and I will help you get where you need to be!
You can find more information about me on Instagram @drmariannemiller or on my Facebook page.