Expert: Nafeesah - 12/3/2008

Question
QUESTION: My girlfriend (she's 18 and I'm 19) wants to loss another 20 pounds (she's about 100) with diet pills. I am willing to the gym with her but the pill idea has to go. I once came home early cause I didn't feel and I caught her throwing up in the bathroom and complately freak out.

I talk to her about it a few times and she thinks its not a big deal and im over reacting. She trying get into modeling. She won't eat a thing because she want to be a model. She loss 10 pounds in one week. That just doesn't sound healthy to me. I don't know what to do anymore. help

ANSWER: Tell her that many models are getting let go because the fashion industry is coming into scrutiny for emphasizing an image that is not setting a positive example to young girls. Most agencies do not play around with models who get loaded on diet pills and other drugs. Agencies will cut models if they don't maintain a healthy weight and are using drugs and diet pills. If she's making herself throw up she's got a problem. You should stage an intervention with you and her parents and those who know her because she needs treatment because once she gets into this mode of self-destructive behavior she won't stop until she lands in the hospital. Here's a website to look at it's called Something-fishy.org and find resources on how to confront her and talk her into treatment.

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QUESTION: The agency she works with keeps telling her to loss weight (forget to tell you that part sorry). She tells me she fine she and I need to take it easy. I caught her throwing up (again) and I freak out (again). I'm worrying too much?

ANSWER: Anytime an agency tells models to lose weight and many do this to stay working and you have every right to worry because bulimia is serious and can be life threatening. If you know this agency is telling models to lose weight and if some of them have resorted to starvation and self-induced vomiting you can file a complaint against them with the licensing bureau in your home state citing they're telling their clients to lose weight and possibly suggesting dangerous means to do so. Most models work out and not have to resort to starvation and self-induced vomiting or abusing laxatives and diretics(water pills).

If you find these two items in your girlfriend's medicine cabinet an intervention is needed ASAP.Also be watchful for ipicac which is also a frequently used drug for bulimics.If your girlfriend keeps making herself throw up she'll have heart problems later on because excessive vomiting causes an imbalance of potassium which is needed for maintaining heart health. She could lose her period and other hormonal imbalances which can cause her hair to fall out and can put her at risk for early onset osteoporosis from the lack of calcium. This can also impair her ability to get pregnant if she chooses to have children later because infertility is also a problem for women who have a history of being bulimic or anorexic. If your girlfriend wants to be a model she needs to exercise and eat right vomiting and starving herself does not work it only causes problems later on and also it can cause her to gain weight even faster because of her vomiting and she's also depriving her body of other nutrients that is key for organ health and overall body health.

The only thing you can do is tell her that if she doesnt get help that you'll be making some changes and one of them could be you leaving her. It's not something you want to do, but why would you want to sit there and watch someone self-destruct if she's hurting herself she'll learn the lesson the hard way when she's got health problems from long term vomiting and starving herself. The only other thing I can tell you is to do an intervention with yourself and those who know her and see her doing this. Usually interventions work because it snaps that person to reality when they realize the people care about them want to see them well and healthy. Give it a try and go on Something-fishy.org for possible resources to contact an interventionist help you with this problem.

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QUESTION: My girlfriend went to the hospital (she'll be out in a week) for passing out randomly becasue she not eating enough. She still not its a big deal. She's now 90 pounds and I'm told her parents and friends about this. When I talk to her she chances the topic. What I should do?


Answer
Now that you got her parents and friends attention it's time to stage an intervention so she can get the treatment she needs. 90 pounds is an unhealthy weight. If she's passing out and acting lethargic that's a sign of what's to come if she continues to starve and purge herself. I would get a hold of an intervetionist so that you guys can sit down and talk to her about this and for her to get some kind of treatment because she's not well. She may think it's not a big deal, but how is making yourself throw up and starving yourself into ill health not a huge deal. She's in denial and in order for her to see that she's needing help is to stage an intervention. Deal with an interventionist who is qualified to deal with those with eating disorders since this is a sensitive issue. Go on the website that I recommended and look up an interventionist and begin to get your game plan on and help your girlfriend seek the treatment that she needs in order to save her life.