Am I developing anorexia?

[Br1_Br1]

i am a 16 year old female 5'6 and used to weigh 146lb, deciding i want to loose weight, i went on a diet starting at december, i am currently 123 pounds and loose about 2 pounds every week, everytime i eat food i feel fat and disgusting and i used to, (for a short period of time) purge, i ALWAYS check the amount of calories in food cans and i constantly weigh myself. everytime im hungry i feel really good and i guess, powerful. My friends and family always tell me that im tiny but i seriously dont see it at all and im freaking out atm because i really dont to go through this. and i dont know if its just because im paranoid but my hair also feels alot thinner.

[Sylandi]

It sounds to me like you have a restrictive eating disorder whether you meet the clinical criteria for anorexia or not (and if you keep losing 2 lb a week you'll be at BMI 17 soon enough). In some countries (not quite as thin-obsessed as the US) BMI 20 is the low end for a healthy weight and you are at 19.9. Moreover you clearly have the mental signs, and your hair really is likely thinning if you are below your body's preferred weight. (If your periods are or become irregular or disappear this is another sure sign, but it's not necessary, some women continue to menstruate even at dangerously low body weights.)

[thehorrorgirl]

Hey I've had anorexia for more of my life than not, and have spoken to many people who also have it. I'll ask you this- before you lost weight, were you depressed, abused, or have any mental illnesses (personality disorders etc)? Because what anorexia s essentially is a coping mechanism. People who suffer with mental illness or who've had lots of trauma use it as a way to feel better or numb it out or even so they're "good at at least something", stuff like that. If you just lost control over your diet then that's more "diet gone wrong". People with anorexia and bulimia are, like people with other mental illnesses, born different. We have different brains, when you do a CT scan they're totally different. We are genetically predisposed to getting the disorder. And then stuff like depression or trauma develop it. People with EDs can see it throughout their whole lives. I first tried to starve myself when I was 7, and first wanted to commit suicide around the same time. Not only that but people with EDs have them til the day they die, they just learn to manage it. If this sounds like you, then yes you're developing anorexia. If not, it sounds like dieting gone wrong and poor self confidence. Either way you should see a nutritionist or therapist and find a way to fix it. The longer you wait, the longer it'll take to get better. And if you have a true eating disorder, it'll take several years (5, 10, 12, 15 years) before you learn to manage it. If it's not that then hopefully you can find a healthy way to diet! Also, in order to be diagnosed with anorexia, you have to have a BMI of I think 17.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi!
If you are not losing weight the proper way then you are bound to lose hair and you may also over time feel weak.
Well, actually it is good to lose weight and feel good about it. It boosts one's morale. However, one should not become obsessed with it. To get a realistic view—log in what you eat. Keep a diary. Log in each food item you take, time at which you ate, purging if any or forced vomiting, laxative if any that you took etc. Basically a diary of what you ate—food, medicines etc, exercises you did—duration type of exercise etc. Consult the psychologist and nutrition expert with a diary of week-10 days. If you are not able to maintain an honest diary (actually it is very difficult to be honest about it), then you can ask a close friend to do this for you.
It’s never too good to lose so much of weight.  The ideal aim should be to lose about half kg per week or two kg in a month. Some can effortlessly lose about 3 kg in a month. You must ask a doctor to tell you your ideal weight. If you have already reached then then you should work owards maintaining it and not losing weight further. Too fast weight loss can cause rebound weight gain. Also, it can cause other problems such as loose skin, flabs at unwanted places etc. Apart from losing weight, you need to tone up the body. A combination of aerobic, strength training and stretches works best. Many people find it difficult to fit an exercise regimen into their lives. The best way is to join a nutrition expert and a physical trainer (or a gym) and follow their advice. Incorporating yoga into this regimen takes stress out of this exercise to lose weight. Also the diet should contain more of green leafy vegetables, fruits and protein and less of spaghetti, potato etc.  I suggest you eat frequent small meals and stop counting calories. It is best to eat lots of fruits and non-starchy green veggies, go slow on fats, eat carbohydrates in moderation and increase your protein intake (lean cuts, whites of eggs etc). Drink plenty of water and non fattening fluids such as clear soups etc. Look for hidden calories in salads and soups and avoid them (eg: cheese, butter, dressings etc). Hope this helps. Take care!



The medical advice given should not be considered a substitute for medical care provided by a doctor who can examine you. The advice may not be completely correct for you as the doctor cannot examine you and does not know your complete medical history. Hence this reply to your post should only be considered as a guiding line and you must consult your doctor at the earliest for your medical problem.