|
Eating Disorder Treatment Anorexia, Bulimia, Obesity and binge eating are twice as common today as they were in 1980, and these problems continue to rise. While most of those suffering from eating disorders are females, the rate of males struggling is also rising. Obesity now affects a majority of males and females in Amreica. At Personal Relationships we use a team approach (Dr. Bowman, Sonthe Burge R.D., and Don Battle, M.D.) to fight obesity and eating disorders. This team approach often prevents people from entering highly expensive inpatient or partial programs and from surgery for obesity. Common signs of eating disorders include depression, irritability, obsessing about food, hiding one’s problems with food, bingeing (consuming large quantities of food until uncomfortably full), purging (vomiting or using laxatives), severely restricting calories, fearing various types of food, fearing eating in front of others, dehydration, hair loss, osteoporosis, menstrual problems, and heart problems. Dr. Bowman is an expert in treating eating disorders and obesity, which account for nearly half of his clientele. He and the PRI team have worked successfully with numerous people suffering from severe eating disorders, including many who failed to improve after spending weeks or months in residential programs, sometimes unsuccessfully undergoing several such treatments. One of thee keys to Dr. Bowman's approach is to empathize with those suffering from eating problems: these are not bad people who are trying to destroy themselves and their families; they are goal-directed people, trying to have the best bodies they can. Their main problem is they are pursuing their goals in an unhealthy way. For example, severely restricting calories or purging leaves people so weak they are unable to exercise and develop muscles and tone. In fact, restricting and purging often causes such weakness that people can hardly do anything at all. And restricting causes bingeing, which leads to purging. Family members can greatly aid recovery, but they have to learn their place in recovery is to follow professional advice and not to constantly nag people about eating who are typically already too hard on themselves. Nagging leads to an intensification of the problem, but appropriate support, especially for teens, is extremely helpful according to a recent report in the Archives of General Psychiatry. The final key to Dr. Bowman's approach is to get people with eating disorders to tell others about the things that are bothering them and their wants and desires, which creates healthy boundaries. Dr. Bowman helps people with eating disorders create healthier bodies; his goal is never to simply add or reduce pounds, but rather to promote and develop health, wellness, beauty, and energy. At PRI, we help make people fit, not fat. As a sport psychologist, who has worked with numerous professional and elite athletes, Dr. Bowman has a great respect for the body, and an even greater respect for how the mind either gets in its way or takes it to amazing places. He and the PRI team are committed to helping you or your loved one develop an incredible body and mind. Note: We are proud to announce that we have recently added a dietician (Sonthe Burge, R.D.) and a physician to help people with eating disorders and weight loss. Their bios are coming soon, but you can already schedule to see them at Personal Relationships, Inc. In conjunction with Dr. Bowman, they provide a complete and comprehensive approach to weight and eating issues! Click here for an interview of Dr. Bowman by Birmingham Parent on Sports and Eating Disorders, and click here for an interview of Dr. Bowman about children and Eating Disorders in the Birmingham News. |
 Dr. Bowman is our eating disorder specialist. |
