Woman Who Shed 156lbs Praised for Showing 'Reality' of Extreme Weight Loss

People who experience signs of body dysmorphia might spend excessive amounts of time thinking about a flaw, checking their appearance in the mirror regularly, or have a sense of fear that people are staring at them.

Dr. Courtney Crisp, an eating disorder specialist and licensed clinical psychologist, who works with patients struggling with body image, encourages people to focus on what they can do, rather than what they can't change.

Crisp told Newsweek: "It is hard to feel good about yourself when you are constantly assessing and picking yourself apart. My patients and I work together to brainstorm what their body does for them in terms of function. Another thing I often work with my patients on is unpacking what I call internalized fatphobia, or weight stigma.

"Patients often find empowerment in recognizing that the thin, often white image, that society deems desirable is not necessarily something that they want to believe in. From there, they are able to build a more empowering vision of what a healthy body image can look like for them."

Read full article published at Newsweek here.