Expert: Meg - 8/4/2008

Question
So im confused. I'm 15 years old. I've researched on anorexia, and every site says young teenage girls who are anorexic are really skinny but im average like 136lbs. When no ones home I never eat. When I'm around people I only eat a little so they don't know, and so they don't suspect anything.Only 3 people know about it. I haven't told my parents and I know I should but I'm not comfortable with talking to them about anything. I tried diets but they don't work. I've binged once, and I will never do it again. So, really i just want to know if I am or not or even if its a slight case.

Answer
Hi Kayla,

Thanks for your question and I hope that I can be of some help.  While its impossible for me to diagnose you from an email, I can give you some self test links that will help you figure out if there is a more serious problem.  I will paste the links at the end of this note.  

That said, it does sound to me like there is at least some sort of problem since you are feeling like you really need to lose weight and are unhappy with your body, but are not at all overweight.  Regardless of if you have an "official" eating disorder, it sounds like you are at least on the road to getting one and I think its good that you recognized it early.  

Here are the links to the selfquizzes (the second link has many tests to choose from)


http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/Eating_Disorders/concernedcounseling/eat...
http://www.healthyplace.com/site/tests/psychological.asp#eating_disorders

And here is a link to a site that has some good information about Eating disorders and what you can do if you do feel like you have one or are on the way to getting one.

Take care and I hope that can stop this now, before it gets any worse.  Please feel free to write again if there is anything else I can help with.

Best,
Meg