Naina Varma (APD, CEDC) 

She/Her/They

Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD) 

Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician (CEDC)

Naina is a proud queer, brown and anti-diet dietitian and Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician. With a passion for helping people develop a peaceful relationship with food, body acceptance, and trust, while integrating movement in an intuitive and joyful way. Their nutrition philosophy is based on mind-body connection, rooted in self-care, curiosity, and Health at Every Size (HAES). Naina believes in walking alongside her clients and working collaboratively with them toward their goals, rather than pushing or pulling them to a specific external health destination. Naina has extensive experience working in hospital and community settings in both the medical and mental health sectors. She has worked in rural, regional, and metro Australia, supporting people with their eating habits and relationship with food, and how these may interact with various diseases and conditions. Currently, she works in a tertiary mental health system in the eating disorders sector, where her practice is rooted in social justice, inclusion, and diversity. Naina enjoys working with clients harmed by diet culture messaging, parents/caregivers seeking support in feeding their children and fostering a positive food and body relationship, neurodivergent individuals harmed by neuronormative ideals around eating, students and young adults navigating life transitions, individuals stepping down from treatment at a higher level of care, individuals managing chronic health conditions, and those interested in establishing a joyful relationship with movement. They have experience serving LGBTQIA+ communities, Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) folks, transgender and non-binary individuals, and neurodivergent folks. Naina is a down-to-earth and compassionate provider who strives to create a safe space for her clients. Personally, Naina loves to spend time with her fur-baby, going on long walks, weight lifting, dining out and spending any time she can on travelling and seeing the world. If you are ready to take the next step in your health journey and would like to connect with Naina, call our clinic on (03) 9087 8379 to book an appointment or alternatively use the booking link below.

BOOKING DETAILS:

Please note clients need to be 15+ or older to see Naina for eating disorder care and 5+ for general paediatric care. 

Naina is not currently accepting new clients.

If you are an existing client and would like to make a booking with Naina, please contact reception on Phone: (03) 9087 8379

What will happen at the first session with an Eat Love Live Dietitian?

EAT LOVE LIVE POLICY

We require that all clients be linked in with regular medical support to ensure their ongoing medical safety.

We require clients to be engaged with or planning to engage with psychological support to ensure that we are providing safe, ethical and evidence-based support.

AGE LIMITS FOR ACCEPTING NEW REFERRALS: 

Please note some practitioners have boundaries on the age of clients they will accept as new referrals. 

We request that for all new clients aged 15 years and younger that a pre-assessment questionnaire be completed to assist us in triaging the young person and family. 

For all clients aged 15 or younger we request that the initial assessment be with the parents/ carer only. 

Eating disorders do not just affect the person but families as a whole.

This is an important part of the assessment process and will help us to get a clear history of the development of the eating disorder and aid in setting up a treatment team and clear treatment goals moving forward. 

Family Based Therapy/Treatment (FBT) is the gold standard for supporting children and adolescents with eating disorders. The Eat Love Live team are not trained in FBT or family therapy. 

We can be an adjunct to this important treatment process, provide a safe space for discussion around meal planning, information about eating disorders, physical and psychological risks associated with the eating disorder, normal puberty changes to the body, guidelines to adequate amounts of nutrition and help clear many of the myths about food and bodies in our community. 

We appreciate that accessing paediatric and adolescent services is difficult and there are long wait lists. As with all clients, we insist that all adolescents are linked in with a multidisciplinary team including a GP and a mental health clinician - be it a psychologist or psychiatrist. And we suggest that clients make the referral to CAMHS/CYMHS and / or private family therapy and be on the waiting list for this support. 

Along with the GP or paediatrician we can provide information and support while families are waiting for this important more intensive support.

Parents can speak with their GP or Paediatrician about referrals to these supports.