Eating disorders and body image disorders are types of behavioral disorders that can affect your quality of life. If you have an eating or body image disorder, you need the help of a professional. Anthony J. Hall, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, at Ascension Psychiatric Services, offers a wide range of psychiatric services, including diagnosis and treatment of eating and body image disorders. He has two convenient office locations in Washington DC, and Atlanta, GA.
What You Need To Know About Eating and Body Image Disorders
Eating disorders and body image disorders may go hand-in-hand. Anorexia nervosa can accompany body dysmorphia or a feeling of being fat when your weight is normal. On the other hand, eating disorders and body image disorders may be independent of each other. You may binge on fattening foods and not have a body image problem. Consider these common eating disorders:
Anorexia Nervosa, which can lead to self-starvation and extreme weight loss. You may have anorexia nervosa if you:
- Have dramatic, unexplained weight loss
- Refuse to eat entire categories of food
- Comment frequently about your weight or about being fat
- Excessively exercise under all conditions including illness
- Have a fixation with weight loss, dieting, and food
Bulimia, which is characterized by binge eating followed by vomiting to expel the food. You may have bulimia if you:
- Eat large amounts of food at one time
- Purge out the food by using laxatives, diuretics, or emetics to induce vomiting
- Excessively exercise under all conditions including illness
- Have a fixation with weight loss, dieting, and food
Body image is how you feel about yourself when you look in a mirror. You may have a body image disorder if you:
- Perceive you look different than you really do
- Feel ashamed and self-conscious about your body
- Believe that others will not find you attractive because of how you look
If you or someone you know is showing signs of an eating disorder or body image problem, seek out the expertise of a psychiatric provider. Common treatments for eating disorders or body image problems include:
- Individual psychotherapy
- Medication and counseling
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Hospital or residential treatment
Want To Know More About Eating and Body Image Disorders?
To find out more about the signs, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of eating and body image disorders, call Anthony J. Hall, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, at Ascension Psychiatric Services. You can reach him in Washington DC, by calling (301) 917-3336, or in Atlanta, GA, by calling (678) 551-7083, so call today.