Expert: Ryan Hale - 11/12/2009

Question
for as long as i can remember I has always been fussy with food. As a child would only eat breakfast and breakfast cereal after school. I have never thought food was important just something you have to do. As I grew would not eat for a day or so if i felt was getting to heavy, though i don't diet, i eat what i want though not in big portions. My BMI is normal so i don't see that what i do is a issue, though at the moment I do wonder

Answer
Mel- if your BMI is normal, I would concern myself more with how you are feeling about yourself (body image especially) and your feelings with food.  Usually the place to start is with people's health and making sure they are of a normal and healthy weight, but in your case, it is still concerning that you seem to be worried about your "heaviness" and your "fussiness" with food.  If you were to begin having those thoughts run your life and dictate your activities, it would certainly be a problem.  You also need to make sure you are consuming enough food to fuel your activity level.  Normal BMI doesn't count as good if you aren't taking in enough calories and nutrients for your activity level.

Eating disorders also have a component that includes how you feel about yourself and how eating or not eating makes you feel.  That's the "feeling" aspect.  Also, there is often conflict with in the family (especially with parents) that goes beyond the typical parent child friction that many people experience but takes the form of very controlling and perfectionistic.  Other relationships are often involved as well and include things like control and impossibly high expectations.  If you feel any of this fits, it would be wise to seek the advice of a qualified counselor or other mental health professional.  Because eating disorders involve your feelings as well as your relationships, a counselor can help these areas especially.  If you don't feel like this applies to you, then just self monitor and make sure you are not running your life according to food and its effects.  Allow yourself to enjoy life by enjoying activities that may involve food (birthdays, holidays, etc).  You don't have to go crazy with food or alcohol at those times, but if you find you are avoiding them because you are avoiding food, then it could be that it's becoming a problem.