Expert: Ginger M. - 10/30/2008

Question
I was wondering, where is the line between dieting and anorexia? I have been trying to lose weight and in the past few days have dropped around 2 pounds. I am just eating healthy though so I don't know if what I am doing is dangerous. Is there a specific habit or something that identifies an eating disorder versus diet?

Answer
Hi Lauren,

Thanks for your question! Yes, there are specific habits that identify eating disorders. The DSM-IV is the diagnostical manual doctors use to determine mental illness. In order for a person to be diagnosed with a specific illness, they must meet the criteria listed in the manual. Here's what the manual says for anorexia (links to bulimia and eating disorder-not-otherwise-specified are there at the bottom, too):

http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/psychiatry/eat...

A good idea would be to talk to your doctor about your diet, so you'll know for sure that your idea of eating healthy is the same as his/hers and the national food guide ... I know my idea of healthy eating at one point was less food than what the food guides recommend for a five year old.

It's great that you're conscious of this now, so you don't fall into bad habits. :)

Hope this helps!

Ginger