Expert: Joanne - 4/19/2008

Question
I have been recovering from anorexia for a while now. I haven't gained that much weight since I decided to change my life, only 1-2 pounds. But my question is, if you or anyone else you know also experienced some binge eating disorder symptoms during recovery, and if yes, will ir pass? I'm really afraid that now I've found my way to another eating disorder - compulsive overeating. I'm trying to restrict to 1200-1600  but at least once a week I binge and it goes over the 2000 cal limit :( . In the morning and at night I'm doing okay but at lunch I'll lose my mind. I have tried everything, drinking a lot of water, waiting 20 minutes after eating and so on and so on. I eat enormous amounts of food and do it in private.  Usually after a binge I'll start exercising compulsively. For the past four days I have been exercising 2,5hours, usually it's like 1,5 hours or 2 hours. I really hope that this is just one of the many stages of the whole recovering process and that eating would finally stop controlling my life. Also, I'm 15, 5'7 and weight 111 pounds. I haven't had my period for 9 months.

Thanks,
Shelly

Answer
Shelly

It is quite common for a person to go from one eating disorder to another.  And it is usually anorexia to a binge-eating disorder, be it binge-eating alone, or bulimia.

Your body is trying to repair itself, and some reckon that this is why you binge, its your body's way of trying to get the nourishment that it needs to rebuild itself.  It is possible that it is also due to your body and mind simply being unable to control the way you are eating just now as it has been so messed up for a while.

Your period will return when your body has recovered and is in a state that is healthy enough to support a foetus if you were to become pregnant!  Losing you period is a way of protecting against pregnancy in these situations, it also most likely due to a reduction in hormone production when your body fat percentage is low.

I recommend getting professional help for your eating disorder.  If you haven't dealt with the issues that lead to anorexia, you will not be able to beat this.  You have been using food and eating as a means of dealing with an underlying problem, and until that has been resolved, or you get help finding a better coping mechanism, this is likely to continue!

Please get help!
Joanne