Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 7/28/2009

Question
QUESTION: Dear Dr. Rust,
My name is Calissa.  I'll be 12 in August 15.  I got grounded for a week and couldn't use the computer until now because my mom found her cigarettes in my purse.  I told her they weren't mine and I was holding them for someone else but I wouldn't tell her who so she grounded me.  I lied about it because i didn't want to get in more trouble.  I started smoking when I was 10 because I was getting fat and needed to lose weight.  Smoking helps me not to eat to much and it works for me.  So when I got grounded I couldn't sneak out to smoke as much as I usually do and when that happens I throw up.

My parents dont' want me to diet so I have to hide my food when they're not watching.  If they see it I tell them I want to give it to our dog.  And if I have to eat to much because there watching me I throw up later.

I know I don't have a real eating disorder but I'm afraid it might happen some day if I keep throwing up.  Everything I do doesn't work and I don't know what to do.  I can't tell my mom I smoke and it helps me with my diet because I'll get in trouble for the smoking and the dieting.  And then I throw up when I try not to smoke so that doesn't work either.  Nothing works and I don't know what to do.

Thanks for letting me write you.

Calissa

ANSWER: Dear Calissa,

 I'm so glad that you wrote me!  The first question I have for you is what is your height and weight?  It's hard for me to give the thoughtful answer that you need until I know that!

I'll look forward to hearing from you!!  We'll see if I can help!

Warmly,
Jeannie Rust, PhD
www.mirasol.net
www.edrecovery.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I'm exactly 5 feet tall and I weigh 73 pounds in the morning and 74 pounds at night.
Thank you!
Calissa

Answer
Dear Calissa,


I'm so glad that I asked you your height and weight.  Your BMI is around 14.2 -- which tells me that you're severely anorexic!  You need to be seeing a therapist, a doctor to monitor your medical stability and heart rate.

Do your parents know how low your weight is?  I'm really worried about you!  I also feel so sad that someone as young and as bright as you obviously are has this wretched condition.  The eating disorder literally wants to kill you.  It wants you to keep thinking about losing weight.

The highest cause of death in adolescent girls is anorexia nervosa -- this is over depression and accidents.

You have a very real eating disorder -- anorexia and bulimia!  Sometimes we can be in denial for a long time and keep telling ourselves that it's not that bad, that we really don't have an eating disorder -- but then someone who is an outsider, like me, tries to give you some awareness.

You are so close to needing hospitalization and tube feeding, Calissa.  I hope that you're able to talk to your mom and ask her to help you get some therapy with someone who specializes in eating disorders -- at least twice a week.

One thing you should know is that this is not your fault!  This is something you learned to do to cope with the stress in your life.

Please keep in touch and let me know how I can help you!

Warmly,
Jeannie