ROLE OF PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN IN THE MANAGEMENT OF EATING DISORDERS
NISREEN OMAR ASRAF *
Family Medicine, National Guard Hospital -Jeddah -Primary Health Care (Specialized Poly Clinic), Saudi Arabia.
MUSLIH MOHAMMED ALJAHDALY
Alrayan PHCC, MOH, Saudi Arabia.
ABDULLAH HABIB ALLUQMANI
Alrayan PHCC, MOH, Saudi Arabia.
ROAA MOHAMMED ALJADEED
King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Saudi Arabia.
ABDULRAHMAN HAMAD ALGADHEEB
Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Saudi Arabia.
MAHDI MAHFOODH ALABBAD
Maternity and Children Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
ABDULLAH HUSSAIN AL ABUSAAB
Dammam Medical Complex, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
HATIM MOHAMMED ALSHAHRANI
King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia.
TASNIM ALI ALBATTI
Qatif Primary Health Care, Qatif, Saudi Arabia.
SARAH ABDULLAH ALHASSAN
AlFaisal University, Saudi Arabia.
ABDULLAH NASSER ALSHAHRANI
Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Saudi Arabia.
KAWTHAR FAWAZ ALHAMWAN
Algharbei Primary Health Care Centre, AlQurayyat, KSA.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Numerous occupations rely on a person's weight for success. Models and performers present a degree of thinness that is hard to achieve. Media sources frequently advertise weight-loss strategies and diet secrets. Populations like mature females associate weight loss with self-control and slim body types with higher self-esteem. All of this contribute to arise of many eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa. Although it has always been believed that psychiatrists should be in charge of diagnosing and treating eating problems, general care doctors also play a crucial part. The primary care doctor is in charge of coordinating treatment, including the management of problems and assessing if hospitalization is necessary. The primary care physician must collaborate with a multidisciplinary team that includes a nutritionist and a mental health expert. Finally, the primary care physician may be primarily responsible for continuous treatment and for the management of problems.
Keywords: Eating disorders, anorexia nervosa, primary care, body mass index