Eating & Body Image Disorders

Body Image

Also called the disease of "imagined ugliness," body dysmorphic disorder drives some people to plastic surgeons over and over again. Never satisfied, this illness makes some of the most beautiful people shut-ins. A similar disorder, olfactory reference syndrome, makes people think they offend others with an imaginary foul odor. Both of these disorders can result in social phobia.

Bad Relationship with Food

Dying to eat, people with anorexia nervosa starve themselves out of an extreme fear of becoming overweight. Others with the same fear purge by vomiting to prevent weight gain, with a disorder called bulimia nervosa. While most of these are women, many males suffer from muscle dysmorphia, a disorder where the person just can't get large enough. Any of these disorders can lead to exercise addiction. People who binge on food without purging are compulsive overeaters, also called binge eating disorder.

Talk to Someone Today

Need a listening ear? Check out our discussion forum to talk about eating disorders and other obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders, treatments, medications, how to help a loved one, or just to talk. We have a new section just for eating disorders. Or chat with and online eating disorders therapist by email, online, or by phone.

Escape from the Hamburger

Although the overwhelming majority of eating disorders afflict women, many men suffer as well. Read the following true story about a young man who fought and conquered the demon of binge eating disorder. Read his story now...

Healthy Weight

Overweight? Underweight? Not sure? The BrainPhysics site has a online body mass index calculator that you can use to determine if you are at a healthy weight and what your risk is for certain weight related diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Try our body mass calculator now...