Logotipo Dismorphhia

Clinic specialized in Eating Disorders,

Body Image and Obesity

We are a multidisciplinary team specialized in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Eating Disorders; Body Image and Obesity, from early childhood to adulthood.


We focus on treating the associated symptoms and the root cause of the problems.


Purpose:


Clinic specialized in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Eating Disorders, Body Image and Obesity, in babies, children, adolescents and adults

Vision:



We seek the total recovery of the patient's physical and mental health, through the intervention of a specialized multidisciplinary team.

Values:



Focus on the patient's individuality and their relationship with the surrounding environment,


Equip the patient with skills and strategies for long-term recovery success


Safeguard the patient's physical and mental health


Involving families throughout the recovery process

About us

Our goal

We are a Clinic with a multidisciplinary team specialized in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Eating Disorders, Body Image and Obesity, from early childhood to adulthood.

Our commitment

We want to give each patient the means necessary to combat diseases such as Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating.

Our commitment

At Dysmorphia we can help children, teenagers and adults who suffer from Eating Disorders and Obesity.

Our method

We have several years of experience in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of eating disorders in children, adolescents and adults.

Logo Nome invertido

The numbers you need to know

22%

Of women have an undiagnosed eating disorder

1 in 6

young women have an eating disorder

90%

of the diagnoses belong to young women

Areas of Intervention

Eating Disorders


Obesity


Eating Behavior in Early Childhood

What is an Eating Disorder?

The Portuguese Society of Psychiatry and Mental Health (SPPSM) defines Eating Disorders as:


"Diseases that cause serious disturbances in the way patients evaluate their weight and body image, with a marked impact of this evaluation on their self-concept"


Studies reveal that Eating Disorders are multifactorial, that is, they develop due to a combination of factors of different natures.


Examples of Eating and Body Image Disorders

  • Anorexia Nervosa

    Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by severe weight loss caused by the adoption of restrictive and/or compensatory behaviors.

  • Bulimia Nervosa

    Bulimia Nervosa is characterized by the ingestion of large amounts of food in a short space of time, followed by compensatory and purgative behaviors.

  • Binge Eating Disorder

    Binge Eating Disorder is a disorder characterized by the ingestion of large amounts of food in a short space of time. However, unlike Bulimia Nervosa, there are no compensatory behaviors, such as vomiting.

  • Avoidant/Restrictive Eating Disorder

    Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is characterized by the refusal of certain foods, as well as amounts considered normal for a given individual.

  • PICA

    PICA is a disorder characterized by the consumption of non-food substances, such as soil, paper, paint or ice.

  • Mericism

    The essential feature of mericism is the repeated regurgitation of food after eating or ingestion.

  • Nocturnal Hyperphagia

    Night Eating Syndrome or Nocturnal Hyperphagia is an eating pattern where it is briefly described as eating after waking from sleep or as eating excessively after the evening meal.

  • Body Dysmorphic Disorder

    Individuals with body dysmorphic disorder are preoccupied with one or more perceived defects or flaws in their physical appearance that they believe to be ugly, unattractive, abnormal, or deformed.

  • Vigorexia

    Vigorexia nervosa occurs when there is a psychological illness characterized by constant dissatisfaction with the body, which mainly affects men.

  • Factorexia

    Fatoresxia is a disorder that involves a distorted body image, so that the individual perceives themselves as healthy and thin when in reality they are overweight.

  • Pregorexia

    Pregorexia is a disorder in which the pregnant woman becomes extremely concerned about gaining weight and begins a routine of strict diet and exercise or eats compulsively and then tries to compensate for this by using laxatives or inducing vomiting.

  • Orthorexia

    Orthorexia is defined as an obsession with eating only foods considered "good" and healthy.

What are Early Childhood Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders in early childhood encompass a range of problems that affect the way children relate to food.


These disorders can appear in the first years of life and include behaviors such as refusal to eat, limited acceptance of foods, aversion to certain textures, colors or flavors, fear of choking and episodes of crying and anxiety during meals.


These difficulties can have a negative impact on growth, development and the relationship that the child establishes with food over time (Kerzner et al., 2015).


Other Changes in Eating Behavior

  • Breastfeeding and Introduction to Food

    Feeding difficulties can arise during the breastfeeding phase.

  • Food Selectivity

    Food selectivity is one of the most common disorders in childhood.

  • Poor Sensory Processing

    Inadequate introduction of solid foods during the first months of life can result in eating disorders, such as refusal or aversion to certain types of foods.

  • Dysphagia and Oral Motor Difficulties

    Individuals with anorexia nervosa, for example, may experience muscle weakness resulting from prolonged malnutrition, which can affect the muscles involved in chewing and swallowing.

  • Changes in Oral Sensitivity

    Eating disorders can alter oral sensitivity, leading to hyper- or hyposensitivity to the touch, texture and taste of food.

  • Food and Motor Reeducation

    In collaboration with nutritionists and psychologists, the speech therapist can participate in the process of nutritional re-education, helping patients to re-establish a healthy relationship with food.

Team

The Dismorphia team stands out for its multidisciplinary approach in favor of the individuality of each patient.


Professionals have specific training in the area and are constantly kept informed about topics and updates on eating behavior.

Foto Dra. Ana Aires Martins

Dr. Ana Aires Martins


Clinical Psychology


Clinical and Health Psychologist

Cognitive, Behavioral and Integrative Psychotherapist


Master in Eating Disorders and Obesity from the Faculty of Medicine of the Complutense University of Madrid


Specialist in Neuropsychology


Terapeuta em EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)


Foto Dra. Filipa Ramalho e Silva

Dr. Filipa Ramalho e Silva


Psychiatry


Psychiatrist


Cognitive, Behavioral and Integrative Psychotherapist


Master in Eating Disorders and Obesity from the Faculty of Medicine of the Complutense University of Madrid


Family Therapy Training




Foto Prof. Doutora Joana Saraiva

Prof. Doctor Joana Saraiva


Pedopsychiatry


Child psychiatrist


Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist


PhD in Applied Psychology Eating Behavior from the University of Minho


Psychodramatist


Family Therapist


Researcher and Guest Professor at ICBAS (Medicine Course)



Dra. Paula Beirão Valente

Dr. Paula Valente


Nutrition


Nutritionist


Master in Clinical Nutrition from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra


Advanced Course in Eating Disorders





Foto Dra. ??

Dr. Cristiana Carvalho


Occupational Therapy


Master in Occupational Therapy


Specialist in Sensory Integration.


Specialist in Food Behavior and Selectivity, from the Child Behavior Institute of Miami


Expert in Sensory Integration for Feeding Difficulties, by Isabelle Beaudry, 7senses





Foto Dra. Teresa Rodrigues

Dr. Teresa Rodriguez


Speech Therapy


Speech Therapist


Master in Special Education


Early Intervention Specialist


Specialist in Orofacial Motricity


Auditory Processing Specialist










Brevemente

Dr. Joana Lima Ferreira


Endocrinology


Endocrinologist


PhD student in Medical Sciences at ICBAS-UP


Postgraduate degree in Clinical Nutrition at FMUP


University Professor: Guest Assistant at FMUP (Medicine Course)


Training on overweight, obesity and other changes in eating behavior


Endocrinology course trainer

.


Pedopsychiatry

Child Psychiatry in Early Childhood


















Media

Interviews

The Dysmorphia team seeks to intervene and contribute whenever possible to the public clarification of issues and myths related to Eating Disorders and Obesity, as well as issues linked to body image, addressing the topics in a professional and accessible manner.



Video 1 -  Anorexia


Video 2 - Emotional Hunger


Video 3 - PCA and Obesity

Conferences and Lectures

The clinical staff that makes up the Dysmorphia team frequently participates in lectures, conferences and seminars, both in person and online, promoting reflection on various topics related to eating disorders and obesity.


Dismorphia also seeks to establish contacts and partnerships with institutions and entities that share common prevention and information objectives in the area, both for families and users.

Palestra Dra. Ana Aires Martins
Prof. Doutora Joana Saraiva
apoio à AAPPAF

Social media

Follow the latest publications on our social networks:

Instagram / YouTube / Linkedin

É com com muito gosto que partilhamos uma entrevista que apresenta a nossa abordagem inovadora no tratamento das perturbações do comportamento alimentar e obesidade . Esperamos poder continuar a ajudar de forma efetiva e ir de encontro às necessidades que sabemos existirem neste tipo de pacientes. www.dismorphia.pt
No Centro Integrado de Psicologia e Saúde Mental nasceu a Dismorphia. Inserida no Gabinete de Cardiologia da Boavista, a clínica Dismorphia propõe uma avaliação e intervenção multidisciplinar no campo das perturbações do comportamento alimentar e da obesidade. As áreas de incidência da clínica focam-se em: Alimentação emocional Anorexia Bulimia Compulsão alimentar Dismorfia Hiperfagia noturna Obesidade Ortorexia Perturbação alimentar restritivo evitativa Pica Ruminação Vigorexia A clínica oferece a possibilidade de consultas on-line ou presenciais, e são abrangidas as línguas: Português, Francês, Espanhol e Inglês. Para mais informações contactar: +351 910 885 595. #eatingdisorders #eatingdisordersclinic

Eating disorders affect people of all ages, races and genders.

60 million

of people live with an eating disorder

more than 50%

of the Portuguese suffer from obesity or overweight

42%

of children suffer from obesity or overweight

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions? We're here to help.

  • Do you carry out online consultations?

    Yes, we provide assistance and support in person, in various languages and anywhere in the world.

  • How do I know if I have an eating disorder?

    It is not always easy to identify an eating disorder.

  • What are the warning signs?

    The signs can vary greatly depending on the type of eating disorder, age and characteristics of the patient.

  • What are the main consequences of an eating disorder?

    Health may therefore be severely impacted, making it extremely important to

  • Most frequent comorbidities

    It is common for anxiety, depression and OCD to develop simultaneously.

  • What to expect from the recovery process?

    Like treatment, recovery is different for everyone.

  • Am I sick enough to receive treatment?

    If you are wondering if you are sick enough to recover, then chances are you are

  • What does a person with an eating disorder look like?

    Eating disorders manifest themselves in all types of bodies.

Testimonials


At the clinic they showed me how a diagnosis of an eating disorder doesn't have to be a sentence, but rather an opportunity for growth and self-knowledge.


Dr. Ana and Dr. Filipa changed my life when I no longer believed there was a light at the end of the tunnel for me.


They never saw me as (another) number in the eating disorder statistics, but as a unique being, with my own individual challenges.


I felt heard and understood from day 1.


I felt the support and empathy from the professionals who never gave up on me, even when I wanted to do so.


Today I know that it's okay to need help and that I am more than a diagnosis.


Today I know that it is possible to recover from Anorexia Nervosa!



Joana G.


With the support and guidance of Dr. Ana and Dr. Filipa, I was able to give concrete names to the "ghosts" that accompanied me.


Eating behavior is accompanied by issues related to mental health, which always go hand in hand.


Specialized and professional support helped me understand that my feelings and thoughts triggered by food have a reason to exist and a concrete response like the one given by these professionals is essential to achieving balance.



Julia R.


I have been followed by Dr. Ana for 10 years.


It has been a fundamental pillar in my personal development, self-knowledge, crisis management and defining the person I aspire to be.


It is an art to have the wisdom to question ourselves, but a much more complex art to guide others in this same process.


I am lucky that our paths have crossed.


Ana C.


I have been followed by Dr. Ana and Dr. Filipa for about four years, and from the very first moment I felt welcomed.


It is thanks to your support and professionalism that today I am a more self-aware, more confident and, above all, empowered person.


They have helped me to know and understand the reason for my problems, they guide me in discovering strategies and how to use them, they help me to see solutions in each situation.


It's been a beautiful journey!


Isabel C.

contact us

We carry out consultations in person or online and in several languages.

For more information or clarification, please contact us.