Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 9/29/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have never been diagnosed with an eating disorder. i am 20 years old, 5 foot 7 and i weigh roughly 120lbs. i do not have a healthy eating routine it is very clear, but alot of my friends say i look frail and underweight. its almost like i don't know what its like to be hungry or have an appetite. i know that makes no sense, but alot of times i know i need to eat when my body feels sick but when i do eat its never more than a "happy meal" portion and usually no more than once a day with a snack later.i  feel like ill make myself sick if i try to make myself eat more. i don't feel like I'm starving myself because i feel I'm overweight i just have a hard determining when i should eat because i need to, or eat because I'm hungry?

ANSWER: Dear Jeff,

I'm so glad that you wrote me!  You are frail and underweight for your height and weight.  There is a strong possibility that you are anorexic particularly when you say you feel as if you're overweight.

Have you seen your doctor?  That would be a great place to start.  I would also like to have you see a therapist or psychologist that specializes in eating disorders for an assessment.  Let's find out exactly what it is that you have going on.  

Seeing the doctor will rule out any medical reason for your low weight -- and then hopefully the assessment from the psychologist can help determine if you have an eating disorder!  They will also suggest that you see a nutritionist that can help you with a proper meal plan.  You really can eat normally, not be overweight, and feel so much better!

Let me know what they have to say, Jeff!

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

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

QUESTION: i guess i wasnt clear when i wrote my first message but what i meant to say was that i dont feel like im overweight. i just dont know when i should eat because i dont exactly know what its like to be hungry

Answer
Not being able to tell when you're hungry has a name -- it's called lack of proprioceptive or interoceptive awareness.  This is extremely common in people with eating disorders,

Take a sheet of paper and in the left hand margin of the paper, draw a stick figure without a head.  In the right hand margin, draw a little circle.  This is a picture of someone with an eating disorder -- someone who is completely cut off from most feelings in their body.  It's not permanent -- but I still think the nutritionist and therapist are a good idea for you!!

Warmly,
Jeannie