Issues We Treat | Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders

Because society’s views of physical attractiveness create pressure on men and women to look a certain way, it can be impossible to be completely satisfied with your body and appearance.  If you find that you or your child worry about weight excessively or to a point of loss of control over eating habits and regulation, an eating disorder might be the problem.  Eating disorders are common among people of all ages, classes, and both genders.

Anorexia may be causing you or your child to have a distorted perception of being overweight, even if at a healthy weight or if you/they are underweight.  Refusal to eat, excessive exercise, and not eating in front of others are often signs of anorexia.  Bulimia is another eating disorder which can be identified by actions, such as forced vomiting or taking laxatives, taken to compensate for eating abnormally large amounts of food.  More uncommon are binge-eating disorders, when food is consumed in extreme amounts rather than being restricted.

Coordinating care with a primary healthcare physician is crucial in cases of eating disorders.  However, counseling is in fact very valuable, because eating disorders are as much psychological as they are physical.  We will help you develop healthy cognitive patterns which redefine any negative views of yourself, as well as distorted concepts you may have about health.  Eating disorders can often be coping mechanisms, so we can help you or your child seek other ways to cope with issues leading to the disorder.  Whatever these underlying issues are, we will also target them in our treatment plan with you or your child, in order to get to the underlying cause of your eating disorder.  Building a strong support network will also be crucial to the healing process, and support groups may also be recommended.