About Saffron Expertise I can answer most questions related to Anorexia and other eating disordered behaviors. I am not a medical professional but have read a tremendous amount of medical and other information related to eating disorders out of curiosity.
Experience My eating disorder started when I was 15. I was anorexic until the age of 27. I went through periods of being less and more anorexic but I did not have a period for 10 years. I was a very high-functioning anorexic. When I hit about 70 pounds I knew I was at a point where I couldn't continue living a normal life (going to work etc.). I did not want to be hospitalized and I knew I was on a downward spiral. I struggled with severe depression and was given a prescription for an anti-depressant. It was not long after that I was really able to think more clearly and did not have the same level of anxiety and believe it or not, I made a choice. I could die or I could live and let go of my need for such control and not care so much how people perceived me and admit that I did not have to be emaciated to look normal as I had convinced myself. My recover started when I was 27 and I've not been "anorexic" since but I don't think one ever becomes totally free in the food and body area as one was before it all started. But I am very healthy now, not underweight and not overweight and eat healthily.
Education/Credentials I have a BA from an Ivy League college but no professional credentials.
Question Hi my name is Rosa and im a 13 year old girl. Im about 5ft 5in and 122 pounds. I really really want to lose weight. I've been trying to eat under 1000 cals a day otherwise i feel like ill gain weight. My parents both think I'm developing some sort of an eating disorder when all I want to do is get rid of my tummy and be skinny. So my question to you is- How many calories should I eat per day to lose weight? and also AM i developing an eating disorder?
Answer Dear Rosa:
Why would you want to lose weight? You are the perfect weight for your height and you are only 13! You probably still have "baby fat." Do you have your menstrual cycle yet? You may still be growing too. You don't want to deprive your body of the nutrients it needs to grow and be strong. Please try to eat normally which at your height and age means you should be eating quite a bit over 1000 calories a day. Your basal metabolic rate which is the number of calories you need just for your body to function whether you are sleeping or walking around is around 1500 per day and then you must calculate everyday activities which will add perhaps a couple hundred more calories to your daily needs. There are calculators on line if you Google. You don't sound like you have an eating disorder yet but you are at risk so please eat healthily and more than 1000 calories a day. You do not need to lose weight. If you look up a height/weight chart you will see that your weight is just right and you should be having fun and not worrying about your tummy.
