Physicians and dietitians play a critical role in the treatment of an individual who has experienced trauma and struggles with an eating disorder. Trauma in general, as well as trauma related to food or sensations similar to the act of eating, can trigger a PTSD response. This often results in symptom use, such as restricting, bingeing, and/or purging. The physical trauma that occurs when an individual is severely malnourished, as well as how psychologic trauma affects the body, specifically the brain, both need to be understood. Explaining this to patients, as well as the importance of nutritional and medical support related to the healing process, and finally inviting them to be an active participant in determining the nutritional/medical approach, all determine the degree to which the patient can trust and tolerate the overall process, giving them a sense of control when life has always felt out of control.