Nursing Care Plan for Altered Body Image

Assessment

• Subjective data:
  • Patient expresses dissatisfaction with their body
  • Patient reports feeling ashamed or embarrassed about their body
  • Patient avoids social situations because of their body
• Objective data:
  • Patient has a distorted view of their body size or shape
  • Patient engages in excessive dieting or exercise
  • Patient has a history of body dysmorphic disorder

Diagnosis

Goals

• The patient will verbalize a more positive body image.
• The patient will engage in healthy behaviors that promote a positive body image.
• The patient will participate in social activities without feeling self-conscious about their body.

Interventions

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy: This type of therapy can help the patient to identify and challenge their negative thoughts and beliefs about their body. It can also help the patient to develop more positive coping mechanisms for dealing with body image concerns.
• Body image therapy: This type of therapy can help the patient to learn about body image and its impact on their life. It can also help the patient to develop a more positive body image.
• Support groups: Support groups can provide the patient with a safe and supportive environment in which to discuss their body image concerns. They can also help the patient to learn from others who have similar experiences.
• Medication: In some cases, medication may be necessary to treat the underlying cause of the altered body image. For example, antidepressants may be used to treat depression, which can be a contributing factor to altered body image.

Evaluation

The patient’s progress will be evaluated on a regular basis. The evaluation will include the patient’s subjective and objective data, as well as their progress towards the goals. The evaluation will be used to determine whether the interventions are effective and need to be continued or modified.