Expert: Joanne - 1/11/2008

Question
hi i am doing a report for school on eating disorder, and i had a few wuestions, i read some where that when someone gags themselfs or whatever that even if they do it right away it still only gets rid of half the calroies is that true? amnd how long after eating would gagging still even work ? im guessing theres a time limit to when your body has takin in the calories or somthing?

Answer
Amber

From what I was told from a nurse involved in my care, and something I read in a medical journal, it is likely that you only get rid of 1/3 - 1/2 of what you eat.

As soon as you begin to chew and swallow, your stomach is beginning to digest it and your body is already beginning to try and absorb small molecules such as sugars, etc.

I think they say that almost everything that will be absorbed from your food should be done so within about an hr!

Holly