Body Dysmorphic Disorder Support with Dietitian and Nutritionist

Registered dietitian and nutritionist for personalized support for body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)

Registered dietitian and nutritionist provides personalized support to help manage body dysmorphic disorder known as BDD as well as related health concerns.

Before we explore how our dietitian for BDD can help, a little background information is necessary.

Dietitians on Body Dysmorphia (BDD)

What is body dysmorphia?

Body Dysmorphic Disorder or BDD is a mental health condition, characterized by excessive worry about perceived flaws in the appearance, even if some of these flaws are unnoticeable or minor in the eyes of others.

BDD is one of the obsessive-compulsive disorder subcategories and strongly correlates with eating disorders.

While most people describe days or periods when they do not feel good about their body, or outright state body dissatisfaction or poor body image, they may not necessarily meet diagnostic criteria for body dysmorphia.

At JM Nutrition, our ED and DE dietitians provide support for body dysmorphia within the scope of their practice.

How can a body dysmorphia dietitian and nutritionist help?

A registered dietitian and nutritionist for body dysmorphia or BDD can help in the following ways:

Receive the support of a dietitian to map out symptoms specific to your BDD: excessive use or avoidance of mirrors, body avoidance behaviours (wearing loose clothing, avoiding picture taking, staying away from intimacy).
Understand the impact of compulsive body “fixing behaviours”: constantly exercising and/or dieting, considering bariatric or cosmetic procedures that are not medically warranted.
Draw attention to harmful appearance validation seeking behaviours, such as putting excessive emphasis on others’ feedback about one’s appearance.
Help clients see the connection between BDD and feeling anxious, depressed, ashamed contributing to social withdrawal and in rare cases suicidal ideations.
Map out feelings, thoughts and deeply engrained beliefs that fuel body distress.
Gradually begin to question the validity and impact of thinking errors that keep you stuck in dysmorphia through the use of powerful coaching techniques.
Tackle appearance assumptions, such as “Thin people are more attractive, successful and happy in life”–develop vital skills to disarm the inner critic once and for all.
Translating self-discoveries into goals and actionable items to begin your healing journey.
Discover and overcome your appearance preoccupations, such as appearance checking or appearance fixing behaviours.
Work towards body acceptance and eventually, but not forcefully towards body positivity.
Regain body trust, encompassing both as it pertains to the physical functioning and appearance of your body.
With body acceptance, notice compulsive movement, eating or body fixing behaviours vanish for good and holistic self-care behaviours resurface.
Learn to appreciate your body as an instrument, not as an ornament while also embracing the beauty that comes from within.
Provide ongoing support from a BDD dietitian.
And more.