Eating and Weight Disorders

Eating disorders are severe disturbances in eating behavior resulting in serious medical, family, emotional, and school or work complications. Among many variations of eating and weight disorders are Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge-Eating, Obesity, and Weight and Body Shape Distortion.

Eating and weight disorders, like other chronic disorders, stem stems from both medical and psychological disorders and are not a sign of weakness or lack of will power. This complex problem can result in such anxiety, depression and intense fear in patients regarding eating that it renders them virtually disabled to maintain health, be productive at work, in school, or enjoy healthy relationships.

It is no wonder that dieting, nutrition supplements, exercise equipment and video exercise tapes comprise a multi-billion dollar industry. Patients with weight and eating disorders turn to such alternatives, try “one more diet,” purchase more exercise equipment, and usually face one more failure and endure another episode of despair and frustration.

At Okaloosa Mental Health And NeuroPsychiatric Center, the evaluation and treatment process for weight disorders begins with an internal medical and psychiatric consultation. Based on this consultation, clinical and psychological testing maymight be arranged to structure a comprehensive treatment program. The treatment program may include a recommendation for hospitalization in case of acute or life-threatening disorders.

Our program may also include use of medications and/or individual, group, and family therapy, as well as nutritional education and eating behavior modifications (EBM). All testing and treatment is under the care of licensed mental health practitioners with a psychiatrist as the leader of the treatment team.

If you would like to take an
Eating and Weight Disorder Self Assessment,
please click here.