Expert: Joanne - 3/15/2008

Question
my name is cassidy. i am 13 years old, 5 foot 4, and 115 pounds. I always feel like im so fat. I know you probably think im not, but i just hate seeing all other girls with completley flat stomaches. All my friends tell me i am skinny, but i dont feel comfortable in my own body. I tried to make myself throw up once, but i didnt actualy throw up, i just couldnt do it. I have not been eating alot at all. i have a small bowl of cereal for breakfast, like crackers for lunch, and sometimes no dinner. I have also been exersizing and not eating which i know is not good. Do i have an eating disorder? plese can you help me.

Answer
Cassidy

I can't say whether or not you have a diagnosable eating disorder or not, but I can tell you that it sounds as though you have some disordered eating patterns, which left to continue, could develop into a full-blown eating disorder.

If you are really unhappy with your body, I would suggest trying to tone-up which is hard to do at your age as you don't have access to gyms as easily as older people do.  I would recommend trying to do something like swimming or something a few times a week, but make sure that you are eating well while you do this.

I would recommend speaking to your parents or a teacher than you feel you can trust.  Please try to get help for this soon before it gets worse and basically takes over your life!!!  Eating disorders can have really bad effects on your health, and can even be deadly!

Joanne